Trier
Even before the Romans came there was a settlement in this valley. It belonged to the Gallo-Celtic tribe Treveri. Upon their culture, from which remains still can be seen in the regional museum, stumbled Julius Caesar when he conquered this territory in 57 BC.
With Caesar the 500 year long Roman history of Trier began. The city became a cross-roads and a commercial link between major towns in France and along the Rhine.
Trier has a classic rectangular layout, with the Forum (including the most important buildings) in the center. There were also several Roman Baths in town. The oldest preserved building is the Amphitheatre, dating from 100 AD.
During the reign of Constantine the Great (306-337), Trier became an even more splendid city. He built the Dome/Cathedral, the Imperial Baths, the Basilica and several more Christian places of worship (as this was the empire's new religion).
Visit February 2003
Trier is a small city in southwest Germany, very close to Luxemburg. It has an excellent location along the Moselle River. At first sight it looks like a 'normal' German town, but you don't have to walk far to come eye to eye to Trier's Roman heritage. There's even so much of it that you get the impression that by accident you've stranded in a German town in Italy.
There's a lot to see here, so I'll name some of the highlights. The large Dome of course, and the baths. And, somewhat out of the center of town, the huge Amphitheatre.
Really interesting also is the regional museum. One room there exhibits large mosaics in good condition that have been found in Trier. At the heart of the museum an ornamented light blue grave monument is the center piece of attraction. How beautiful the streets of Trier must have looked like in Roman Times!
More photos can be found in the Picture Gallery
Reviews
Mark Donkor (UK):
My "thanks" to all the reviewers above. I lived in Trier between 1990-1995. As an English speaking African (Ghana), I did not realise the "treasures" around me. The memories the reviews have sparked are mixed though. I did not enjoy my stay there. About the city, I agree, it is beautiful. |
| Date posted: January 2010 |
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I've lived in Germany for 3 years and every other weekend my family and i would go to Trier and we would see something new every time. It's is so beautiful out there. There is something for the whole family, you can go shopping, sightseeing, or go to an amusment park!!! |
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Klaus Freisinger (Austria):
Trier is the oldest city in Germany and there was a time when it was the second most important city in the Roman Empire after Rome itself - and it shows. I have rarely seen a city with such an impressive array of monuments from Antiquity onwards through many time periods up to the present day - a veritable cross section of European history that is remarkably well preserved (sometimes it helps to be off the beaten track). Of course, Roman and medieval monuments dominate the scene, especially the world-famous Porta Nigra (don't neglect to go inside), the cathedral and the Church of Our Lady next door. The city's history is especially connected to Emperor Constantine the Great and the conversion of the Empire to Christianity. I visited Trier for the huge exposition on Constantine on the 1700th anniversary of his marriage in Trier, which was great, but the city itself impressed me even more. |
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Trier is a beautiful city with so much rich history! It is like a mini Paris and a totally unexpected suprise for my daughter and I! We traveled to Germany and decided to just drive down the Autobahn and stumbled through this gorgeous city. It made the entire trip worthwhile! We ended up staying overnight! If you head to Germany, stop through Trier, have your digital camera ready! You won't regret it! |
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Trier is a great city. The sites are beautiful. It is very nice in the late spring and summer. The restaurants have outside tables were you can enjoy your meal while looking at the old houses in the town center. The churches are beautiful. There are a lot of stores for shopping in the town center- no cars can drive there and you walk from one store to the next through outside entrances. The mosel valley is close to the city and there are some beautiful small towns in the area to visit. Lots of vineyards along the mosel river and vineries to try wines. The people are friendly and many speak English. |
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Francis Lodonu (Ghana-West/Africa):
Francis Lodonu
St. Jude Catholic Ch.
P.O.Box KS 6243,
Adum – Kumasi.
Ghana. West/ Africa.
Dear Sir,
Grace and honor be unto our only and one Mother Virgin Mary and his son Jesus Christ through them we have eternal life .First I know you are in good health as I am here. Sir my reason for writing you is that,we people in St. Jude Roman needs help from all over the world and we have no one but you and your congregation to trust, I know you will never turn a deaf ears to as. Please sir we are in the need of status, metals, mass books and Rosaries for the Church and the congregation.
Sir, a whole church like St. Jude and its congregation do not
have Statues when going to mountains and again we have none in our mission house and the Church as a whole and as a leader among the Mass-Servants I wish to write to you in ask for those things in the progress of the Church.
My people and I have come together to seek help from you and your church . Again we need the rosaries to share among to the old peoples who depend on others for survival , so for them to know more about the Virgin Mary and his son. Sir we want to put our trust in you and please never disappoint as for we have no one to depend on accept you and your church members. I will end here and greeting to you and your congregation and also blessings from our Dear Virgin Mary unto you and your Church.
Thank You.
Yours faithfully,
Francis Lodonu
St. Jude Catholic Church.
E-mail: LodonuFrancis@yahoo.com |
| Date posted: July 2006 |
Adam Knotz (USA):
This city is very overlooked when it comes to tourism. When I talk to people about Trier, they usually have not heard of it and I am excited to tell them how great the city is. Not far away from the Roman Bridge and the Kaiser Thermen (Roman Baths) is the Train Station. So if you are travelling by train, seeing these wonderful sites is not hard since everything is so close.
Walking the streets you can see the antiquity of the buildings and your surroundings. Since the Germans have kept everything in such a good state, many of these ruins are in very good condition to see. I highly recommend spending a couple of days here to enjoy the history. It is quite the humbling experience! |
| Date posted: October 2005 |
Kevin (America):
Trier is full of monuments worth seeing. Often overlooked is the town square just up the street from the Porta Nigra. This square turns into a wonderful Christmas Market during December with some of the best food in the country. The town square is also a street or two from St. Peter's Cathedral which is a great example of Romansque architecture. It houses the holy tunic of Christ. I enjoyed the city immensely. If you want to have a walk that you will enjoy, walk through the Kaiserthermen (Roman Baths) or the Ampitheater. Remember the Ampitheater goes down under as well. |
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Ian Cade (England):
 I liked Trier and was surprised by the amount of high quality monuments in the city. The Porta Negra is very impressive, the Dom is stunning for its importance and its holy relic, a tunic supposedly worn by Christ. Then there is the Basilica of Constantine which is impressive for its age, the massive interior and architectural importance as being a forbearer to the Romanesque movement. The Amphitheatre is a little way out side the city walls but is quite large and provides a great place to sit and have a sandwich or run around like a school child (I opted for both with the emphasis a bit too much on the later!)
Not part of the UNESCO site is the birth place of Karl Marx! There is not much there, but it is nice to see none the less.
Trier has enough to occupy you for a day trip and makes a great one from Luxembourg as it is only about 30 minutes by train. |
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Jeremy Tollpuddle (England):
oh one extra thing for those interested in politics the birthplace of Karl Marx is also in Trier, it is abit taky but makes a nice anecdote!! |
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Jeremy Tollpuddle (England):
Trier is really lovley city and the Dom is impressive, especialy for the cypt which houses a tunic that is reported to have been worn by Christ. It is well worth your while to go out to the ampitheatre even as it has a some nice vineyards next to it, Mossle Riesling is well worth a try!! Trier makes a great day trip from Luxembourg which is only about a 40 minute train ride away and the line is set along the banks of the Mossle river which adds much more to the journey |
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Jennifer (America):
Trier is one of the most beautiful cities I've ever seen. |
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bob zijlstra (netherlands):
some 50 kilometers southwest of trier there is the HUNNENRING, a celtic fortress from 300 BC.
Julius Caesar came to the Mosel area and won the battle with the Treveri. The fortress had become useless
But it is very interesting, 2 km wall, 10 meter high.
It should become a Unesco World Site |
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Jim Humberd (usa):
Germany’s capital of Roman Antiquity is a magnificent surprise. Located astride the Mosel River about six miles from the Luxembourg border, Trier is little known to most travelers who vacation in Europe, but it should be one of Germany’s most visited cities.
The oldest city in Germany as well as one of the oldest and most interesting on the continent, one motto says, “Before Rome, there was Trier.” Legend says that Trier was founded in 2000 BC (1300 years before Rome), and the Romans didn’t arrive until 14 BC. In 41 AD the Roman writer, Pomponius Mela, called Trier “urbs opulentissima,” a very opulent city.
… … in Trier while we walked just 2,000 steps, we witnessed and enjoyed 2,000 years of history.
From my book Invitation To Germany (google) |
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Isabelle Rotsch (Germany):
The best place to have a look at the beautiful skyline of Trier is at night on the "Petrisberg". All the sites are illuminated and it is just great. Best time is August; warm and clear nights. I have to know, it's my hometown! |
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