Ancient Roman city in Germany - Roman Monuments, Cathedral of St Peter and Church of Our Lady in Trier 367
What and Why
Trier is an ancient city founded by the Celts in the 4th century BCE and conquered three centuries later by the Roman Empire (Latin: Imperium Romanum). Trier is considered to be Germany oldest city with one of the oldest bishop seat in the Empire. Hence it became one of the most important Roman towns in Europe in history. As a result Trier is rich in ruins from the Roman Empire. In fact there is no place north of the Alps with so many important Roman buildings and such a concentration of traces of Roman settlement have been so well preserved as in Trier.
Besides its ample Roman heritage, Trier is also well known to be the birth place of Karl Marx.
Toponymy
The name Trier derives from the Latin name Augusta Treverorum, meaning 'city of Augustus amongst the Treveri'. Treveri was a Celtic tribe settling in the region during the Roman times. Treveri is usually interpreted etymologically to come from Gaulish trē-uer-i- meaning ferrymen, composed of the suffix trē-, meaning through, and -uer, meaning river, referring to the river Moselle.
See
Porta Nigra
Porta Nigra, meaning black gate in Latin is the landmark of Trier and its construction dates back to the 2nd century CE. The gate, as above picture, is so-named because it was built in dark sandstone. There was also the Porta Alba (white gate) in the east, the Porta Media (middle gate) in the south, and the Porta Inclyta (famous gate) in the west, although all except the Porta Nigra is gone.
The original design of the gate looks quite different: which from the museum was supposed to be two four-storeyed towers. A narrow courtyard separated the two gate openings on either side. For unknown reasons, however, the construction of the gate remained unfinished and the city form also changed very significantly.
Trier Cathedral (Trierer Dom)
Formally the High Cathedral of Saint Peter in Trier (German: Hohe Domkirche Sankt Peter zu Trier), is the oldest church in Germany. Built in the 4th century CE, it has a very imposing Romanesque design.
There is quite a meaningful inscription at the clock. It reads in Latin: Nescitis qva hora dominvs veniet', meaning 'You do not know what time the Lord is coming'.
The interior of the cathedral is equally impressive. One of its Baroque chapel holds the relic of the holy robe of Jesus (Hebrew: יהושע, Yehoshua), the robe Jesus wore just before his crucifixion.
Aula Palatina (Konstantinbasilika)
Aula Palatina (Konstantinbasilika) is a Roman is a basilica that was commissioned by the emperor Constantine I (Latin: Constantinus) at the beginning of the 4th century CE. It looks more like a modern factory than a basilica as its facade is very uncatholic and unconventional.
Church of Our Lady (Liebfrauenkirche)
The Church of Our Lady (Liebfrauenkirche) is another earmarked UNESCO WHS in Trier. This cathedral is very peculiar in architecture as its central nave is a circle. There are twelve round altar niches around the central circular floor plan which makes it resembles a twelve-petalled rose, a symbol of the Virgin Mary (Aramaic: מרים, Maryam) and reminiscent of the twelve apostles.
Barbara Baths (Barbarathermen)
The Barbara Baths (Barbarathermen) are a large Roman bath complex in Trier built in the 2nd century CE. It is the largest Roman bath north of the Alps. Unfortunately you can no longer visit the baths but only view it from the outside.
Imperial Baths (Kaiserthermen)
A short distance from the Barbara Baths is the open, more intact and partially reconstructed Imperial Baths (Kaiserthermen). This bath complex is constructed in the 4th century CE.
Roman amphitheatre (Amphitheater)
The Roman Amphitheatre (Amphitheater) is the notorious site for various gladiator fight, just as in other Roman cities. The original design can be seen in the museum.
Karl Marx House (Karl Marx Haus)
The Karl Marx House (Karl Marx Haus) is a very unassuming museum about Karl Marx's life and writings as well as the history of communism.
Eat and Drink
Viez
Trier is a major wine region, and while it produces its normal Riesling, the specialty wine of the region is an apple wine called Viez, which tastes more like a cider. The drink is traditionally served in a white porcelain mug.
Getting There and Around
Trier is very small and can be complete by foot easily. The city is accessible by train and by road. A good city to spend a day in.
UNESCO Inscription
Trier, which stands on the Moselle River, was a Roman colony from the 1st century AD and then a great trading centre beginning in the next century. It became one of the capitals of the Tetrarchy at the end of the 3rd century, when it was known as the ‘second Rome’. The number and quality of the surviving monuments are an outstanding testimony to Roman civilization.
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