Görlitz:
A Merchant’s
Architectural
Ensemble
on the
Via Regia
Görlitz:
A Merchant’s Architectural Ensemble on
the Via Regia
500 years ago, Görlitz was
one of the most important
trading towns in Central Europe.
Via Regia
The Via Regia was one of the most important trade routes in Central Europe in the Middle Ages. Görlitz formed a central hub for goods on the Via Regia.
Designed for Trade
In the Middle Ages, the layout of Görlitz was completely oriented towards trade.
- 1. Kaisertrutz
- 2. Reichenbach tower
- 3. Older route of the Via Regia
- 4. Merchant’s settlement of the 12th century
- 5. Nicholas tower
- 6. St. Peter’s church
- 7. Lower market square
- 8. Merchant’s houses
- 9. Town hall
- 10. Upper market square
- 11. Via Regia
Where the Merchants lived
The merchants of Görlitz lived and worked in magnificent houses, many of which are still preserved today.
Hall house Untermarkt 5, built ca. 1510-1515, right: so-called treasury with wall paintings
Merchant’s house Neißstraße 30, built 1726-1729, right: hallway on the 1st floor
The hall Houses of Görlitz
A special feature are the Görlitz hall houses built 500 years ago. Their interiors are organised around a central hall: a pioneering idea.
It makes me immensely proud to own such an old house. On the other hand, I don’t really feel like an owner at all. With over 500 years of house history, I’m actually more of a caretaker over a period of time
Rainer Michel
Hall house Peterstraße 14
Hall house Peterstraße 14,
built in the 15th
century
Where trade was organised
The merchants of Görlitz were also members of the town council, which had magnificent buildings erected for the organisation and administration of trade.
Archive wing of the Town hall, built in 1534
Town scale
Town scale and Woad house
Woad house
left: Town hall, right: Business book of a Görlitz merchant from the 15th century
How trade was defended
To make their town a safe trading centre, the people of Görlitz built powerful defences over 500 years ago.
left: Kaisertrutz bastion, built c. 1490–1520, right: Kaisertrutz and Reichenbach Gate c. 1830
Kaisertrutz bastion, built c. 1490–1520
Reichenbach Tower
Nicholas Tower
What the merchants donated
From the money they earned through trade, the merchants of Görlitz donated churches and chapels.
St. Peter’s Church, left: Main portal from
the 13th century, right: interior view
Holy sepulcre
Anne’s chapel
Görlitz: A hub for ideas
Due to the far-reaching trade networks, Görlitz became a hub for ideas and cultural innovations. Artists from all over Central Europe came to Görlitz.
- 1. around 1490 from Saxony: Konrad Pflüger, Late Gothic Master Builder
- 2. around 1500 from Franconia: Albrecht Stieglitzer, Late Gothic Master Builder
- 3. around 1550 from Saxony: Paul Ries, Renaissance Painter
- 4. around 1510 from Kraków: Florian Stoß, Late Gothic Goldsmith
- 5. around 1490 from Moravia: Hans Olmützer, Late Gothic Sculptor
- 6. around 1520 from Bohemia: Wendel Roskopf, Renaissance Master Builder
- 7. around 1600 from Ticino: Marco Spazzo, Renaissance Master Builder
- 8. around 1590 from Alsace: Jacob Michael, Renaissance Sculptor
- 9. around 1570 from Saxony: Hans Kramer, Renaissance Sculptor
