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Görlitz is situated at the right bank of the river (Lausitzer) Neiße which forms the border between Poland (Lower Silesia) and Germany (Saxony). The first mentioning in a document dates from 1071 (Goreliz), other old versions of the name include Zhorjelec, Yzhorelik (1071), Gorelic (1266) and Gorlicz (1313). The village began to develop into a town from 1220 onward, and received a town charter in 1303. In 1341, the town obtained the privilege 'via regia', which meant that all tradesmen travelling east had to bring their goods to Görlitz first. From 1076 until 1253 the town belonged to the Kingdom of Bohemia, until 1308 it belonged to the Margraviate Brandenburg, 1308–1329 it belonged to the Polish ducal family of the Piasts, between 1329–1625 it was again part of Bohemia, and from then until 1815 it belonged to the Electors (1806 Kings) of Saxony. From 1815 on, it was part of Prussia. The Potsdam Agreement of 1945 stipulated that the eastern part of the town on the right bank of the river became part of Poland (Zgorzelic, since 1948 named Zgorzelec), whereas the western part (Görlitz) became part of Germany.

The Blockhaus [background] was built in 1854.

The monument for Prince Friedrich Karl [foreground] was erected in 1891. In commemorates Prince Friedrich Karl, nephew of Emperor Wilhelm I, who had his headquarters in Görlitz as chief of the First Army during the Prussian-Austrian War in 1866. The monument was unveiled on the 27th October 1891, the anniversary of the capitulation of Metz in 1870 during the French-German War of 1870/71.