A question of defense arises. What protected Goerlitz from attackers long ago? I will tell you about the Nikolaizwinger. It is a preserved remnant of the city’s defenses.
Goerlitz was once surrounded by a double ring of city walls. The Nikolaizwinger stands between the double city wall ring. It marks the entrance to the Nikolaivorstadt. The Nikolaizwinger originally protected Goerlitz with city towers and bastions.
The Dicker Turm, Nikolaiturm, and Reichenbacher Turm still exist. The Kaisertrutz, Hotherbastei, and Ochsenbastei can still be found. The Hotherturm is the only surviving corner bastion.
Enter the Nikolaizwinger through a large wrought-iron gate. Coolness prevails between the walls. A path leads through the kennel. Benches sit in the shade of trees. You can hardly hear the cars. Birds chirp.
The Nikolaizwinger is divided into sections. There is a forecourt with a lawn. A perennial garden is also present. You can find a rampart garden and a fountain terrace.
The perennial garden has four levels. Small stairs connect them. Benches invite you to rest. From the Wallgarten, you can reach the Hotherturm. This is located directly on the city wall. It belongs to the Hotherbastei. This corner bastion secured the Nikolai and Neisse suburbs.
Embrasures for cannons are visible. The tower can be visited during the Goerlitz Tower Tour. A new steel staircase leads from the bastion to the suburb. You can walk to the Brunnenterrasse. From there, leave the Nikolaizwinger.
In 1953 and 1954, garden architect Henry Kraft redesigned the Nikolaizwinger. He turned it into a green space. This was part of the National Reconstruction Programme. People from Goerlitz helped. In the 1990s, the city wall was renovated. The kennel was also renewed.
About 80 meters upstream near St. Peter’s Church is the Ochsenzwinger. This is another surviving fortification. It is also a section of the city’s former fortifications.
The “gate at the Kahle” formed a side entrance to the town. In the Middle Ages, a path led to cattle pastures. The gate is no longer preserved. You can walk through the ox kennel.
If you come from Bergstrasse to Ochsenbastei, see the Ernst Thalmann film set. A huge lettering was painted on one wall for the filming. Today, this complex is designed like a garden. You can walk past flower beds. You can look over the wall. You will discover the Old Town Bridge. It leads to Poland.
During the Altstadtfest, a medieval market takes place in the Nikolaizwinger. The Nikolaizwinger transforms into a medieval complex. Visitors feel transported back centuries.
Visitors describe the Nikolaizwinger as an oasis for Goerlitz. Many visit the park each time they come to Goerlitz. The park and quiet spots invite you to linger. The old defense system feels romantic and idyllic. The Nikolaizwinger offers a glimpse into Goerlitz’s history. It provides views of the Neisse River and Goerlitz Old Town. Don’t miss the Nikolaizwinger on your next visit.