GORLITZ, ger'lits. A town in the Prussian Province of Silesia, capital of the circle of G6r litz, situated on the Neisse, 62 miles by rail east of Dresden (Map: Prussia, F 3). It has still retained in part its old fortifications. There are extensive modern quarters. Chief among the ec clesiast,ical buildings of Gorlitz is the large Prot estant Church of Saint Peter and Saint Paul, originally built in the thirteenth century, re built in the fifteenth century, and partly renovat ed after a fire at the end of the seventeenth. The church is a good specimen of late Gothic style, and has a fine crypt and two modern towers. Other noteworthy churches are the late Gothic Frauenkirche, dating from the fifteenth century; the Trinity, or Abbey, Church, dating from 1245 and restored in 1808; and the new Protestant Church, consecrated in 1901. The sightly Rat haus, built in the Gothic and early Renaissance styles, has a remarkable staircase and fine ex amples of wood-carving. A massive bastion of the fifteenth century, well worthy of attention, is now used as a guardhouse. Many fine ex amples of Renaissance architecture are also found among the private dwellings, and there are nu merous monuments and fountains. The attrac tive municipal park contains statues and a bo tanical garden.
The administration of Glirlitz is vested in a chief burgomaster, a burgomaster, a hoard of magistrates of seventeen, and a municipal coun cil of sixty members. The town has a good water
supply, and is lighted by gas and electricity. Among the educational institutions, the most prominent are the two Realgyinnasirn and one classical the seminary for female teachers, the municipal museum of antiquities, the municipal theatre, the municipal library, contain ing many valuable manuscripts and incunabula, and the library of the Upper Lusatian Scientific Society, with more than 60.000 volumes, manu scripts. and collections of minerals and copper engravings. The city is well provided with benevolent institutions, as well as with art and scientific organizations. It is one of the most important industrial points of Silesia. The lead ing manufactures are cloth goods. There are also produced railway supplies, machinery, gold and silver wares, toys, cigars, and sausages. The retail trade is carried an to a large extent by co operative stores. Population, in 1890, 62,135; in 1900, 80,931; mostly Protestants. The vicin ity is interesting for its fine views.
Gorlitz, which bears the name of a Slavic vil lage near which it arose, was founded about 1200. It received Magdeburg rights in 1303, and joined the league of the six towns of Upper Lusatia in 1346. From 1377 to 1396 it was the capital of the Duchy of Gorlitz. In 1635 it passed to Saxony, and was annexed to Prussia in 1815.