Welcome Görlitz/Zgorzelec

Görlitz: Love at first sight

What does it feel like when, on your first stroll through a city, you know: This is where I want to stay? For trainee teacher Emma Köth, Görlitz was love at first sight. Today she lives and works in the city on the Neisse River and has begun her teaching traineeship at the Jahn School, which welcomed her with open arms. Her story shows: Those who come to Görlitz often find more than expected. And sometimes: exactly what they're looking for...

Between classroom and old town charm

What draws a young teacher from the big city back to Görlitz? For Patrizia Kepstein, it was more than just love of home – it was a conscious decision for quality of life, family, and professional fulfillment.

Here to stay

Ralf Greven has a unique perspective on Görlitz and its inhabitants. In this interview, he explains what fascinates him about the city, why he will soon be leaving the Lower Rhine region for good, and which places he particularly appreciates.

From student to professor: A career path in her hometown

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Anna Prenzel is a professor of Applied Computer Science at Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences. In this interview, the Görlitz native talks about her connection to HSZG, her enthusiasm for knowledge transfer, and her love for her hometown.

Student teachers bring a breath of fresh air to Görlitz schools

A pilot project by TU Dresden offers student teachers valuable practical experience at the Innenstadt secondary school in Görlitz. Through early integration into the classroom, they gain important insights into everyday school life and strengthen their career choice. In a recent feedback meeting with Mayor Octavian Ursu, the positive effects of the project on students, teachers...

Back to the roots – and new perspectives

Margarete Schott has a special connection to Görlitz: she was born here before her parents moved to the West 41 years ago. After many years near Mannheim, the family returned to the Neisse River in 2020 – and Margarete Schott decided to take the same step with her husband and young son David.

New leadership at the Melanchthon Elementary School: A return to home

Since the start of the current school year, the Melanchthon Elementary School in Görlitz has been under the leadership of Björn Tscharntke. The 35-year-old originally comes from Ostritz and completed his Abitur (university entrance qualification) in Görlitz. He moved to Freiburg with his then-girlfriend and now wife to study and has now returned to his hometown.

Buyan Li's musical journey to Görlitz

Baritone singer Buyan Li has found a new artistic home in Görlitz. He came to Germany in 2013 to further his vocal training. Since 2023, he has been a permanent member of the Gerhart Hauptmann Theatre ensemble in Görlitz.

From Morocco to Görlitz: Imane and Yassine find their calling

Imane and Yassine not only share their Moroccan heritage, but also a deep-rooted passion for helping others. In March, they came to Görlitz to begin training as nursing professionals.

Research and life in Görlitz

Tim Callow and Bartosz Brzoza came to Görlitz from Great Britain and Poland to conduct research at the Center for Advanced Systems Understanding (CASUS). In this interview, the two scientists explain how they came to Görlitz and what they appreciate about working and living in this European city.

"I can make a difference, especially in Görlitz."

Aileen Baumgärtner is a master's student at the Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences and consciously chose Görlitz as her place of study and home. Originally from Bautzen, she has made the border town her new home. A conversation about civic engagement, mental health, and the coronavirus.

Görlitz shows its face: A call for good cooperation

The initiative "Görlitz Shows Its Face" promotes respectful coexistence in Görlitz and invites all citizens to actively participate. In light of global and local challenges, the initiative calls for objective and honest discussions. "Görlitz Shows Its Face" values tolerance and welcomes the cultural diversity of the city.

Welcome home: Happy in your new (old) home

Lisa took the plunge and returned with her family from Potsdam to her hometown. The Görlitz native has since not only founded an international choir but has also rediscovered her hometown in a completely new light.

Life in the heart of Europe

In 2023, Thomas van Schalkwyk came to Görlitz and became Head of Production at BIRKENSTOCK. The South African native had previously lived in Dubai and Paris. What began with a job offer in the European city quickly became one of the most fundamental decisions of his life. In this interview, he explains why this move was worthwhile.

Across borders: How Taylan and SKAN are forging new paths together

Mehmet Taylan Kahraman learned about a job offer at SKAN Deutschland GmbH in Görlitz via LinkedIn and successfully applied. His move from Turkey to Görlitz was still a long way off – but Taylan and the company weren't deterred. In this interview, Taylan and his colleague Rico Hubrich (Talent Acquisition Manager at SKAN) explain why their decision...

From the Netherlands to tourism hero in Görlitz

Over 15 years ago, Petrus Snoeijer moved from the Netherlands to Görlitz. He is now primarily known in the city as a tour guide and ambassador for tourism and culture. In 2023, he was even honored as a tourism hero of Saxony.

BMX in Görlitz: The support in the city makes it possible

Tobi and Hannes from Adrenalin eV volunteer at the 15° BMX & Skate Hall. In this video, they offer a fascinating glimpse behind the scenes and explain how the support of numerous individuals makes their work possible.

I fell in love with the city

Samreen Singh came to Germany from India to study, and eventually also took a short trip to Görlitz – and she immediately fell in love with the city! Since September, she has been a working student at ENO and has made Görlitz her new home.

The world meets in Görlitz!

The tables are set. The kitchen is slowly heating up, and the first hungry customers are already entering the "Horschel" restaurant. Today, they are exceptionally greeted by the two owners. It quickly becomes clear to the guests that the European city concept is truly lived here! Bas Dankers, co-owner and co-managing director of the restaurant, hails from...

Almost too good to be true!

Danuta Termin has lived in Görlitz since 1994. When she talks about her life, her story sounds like the perfect script for a happy life. "Görlitz offered us a new perspective and many opportunities, and we seized them. Where there's a will, there's a way," she says, summarizing her journey from Upper Silesia in Poland to Görlitz.

The move was worth it!

Ivana Petrovska has only lived in Görlitz since November of last year. The prospect of an attractive job drew her to the border town. "I found the opportunities offered by the upcoming structural changes in the region unique and exciting." Besides the chance to meet many highly qualified and dedicated people, the young Macedonian was particularly curious about German culture and...

The trend towards the east

What do you do when you've finally arrived in Darmstadt with your family, everyone has a well-paid job, and the house is finally renovated after a few years? Exactly: You sell it again and return to where you left off 14 years earlier: your hometown.

A city full of opportunities

Several years ago, Tessa Enright moved to Dresden. She left Arizona, where she met her husband while studying business marketing. After two challenging years in the Saxon capital, she initially returned to Arizona. She completed her bachelor's and master's degrees in German studies. But her desire to live in Germany remained.

I lost my job because of Brexit

"I lost my job because of Brexit, so it was time to leave." With this one sentence, first fluently in English, then a little haltingly in German, Bartek Truch succinctly summarizes what is actually a longer story. He has just brought the furniture to Görlitz. From Great Britain, where he and his wife Anna lived happily for many years. Where their two...

Back to the roots

Izabela Jucha lived in England and Canada for a long time. Now the Polish woman is back. Family and Brexit were the reasons for this.

An inspiring place for science

At the CASUS Science Institute in Görlitz, data-intensive computer models are being developed that make it possible to investigate the effects of global change in their complex interactions. It will provide forecasts for entire ecosystems for the next 50 to 100 years. We spoke with two CASUS representatives about how they have settled into life in the European city of Görlitz-Zgorzelec...

Why Görlitz is better than London

Grzegorz Owsian lived on the Thames for 13 years. Shortly before Brexit, he returned – and became a chef in Görlitz. A profile in the Sächsische Zeitung.

At home on both sides

Agnieszka and Philipp Bormann met in Görlitz. They are a Polish-German couple. For them, this is nothing special. Or is it? A profile in the Sächsische Zeitung.

From Dublin to Görlitz

Damian Kuck-Doszko is a walking rubber ball. Guaranteed to put you in a good mood. If you want to catch him at the trendy "Jakobs" bar in Görlitz, you'll need to be quick on your feet. This bundle of energy can simultaneously operate the impressively steaming Italian coffee machine, take drink orders in German, English, or Polish, ring up the cash register, and answer questions about his life...

The best of both worlds

It was 2003, Dr. Dominika Zalewska remembers very clearly, when she and her husband decided to make a fresh start. Two doctors' incomes – she as a gynecologist, he as a trauma surgeon – weren't enough in Poland at the time to provide for their family as they had hoped. The two had met while studying medicine in Wrocław; two of their three children were already born. So it was all the more difficult...

I'm at home

When Jaroslaw Kuczynski greets us, it's immediately clear: this man is happy. The 43-year-old has been working in quality assurance at BIRKENSTOCK in Görlitz for three weeks. "My very first application was successful," says the former basketball player. He applied from Manchester. In April 2005, Kuczynski and his wife first traveled to Great Britain from Warsaw...