Ancient Trier

 Ahhhh, Lovely Trier. As you enter the gates of the Porta Negra (one of the worlds oldest Roman structures), you are greeted by a hip feeling Market Square. The Square includes beautiful shops, delicious food to choose from, and architecture that will make you drool. Trier is the oldest German city located near the border of France and in the scenic Mosel Valley. It is nothing shy of gorgeous. It is Rich in culture, architecture and history. It was founded by Augustus in 16 B.C. but was inhabited by Celts 1300 years before Rome ever existed. 

Come with me on a little tour of this spectacular city!

Rick Steves.. His books are a MUST when traveling Europe. Check his books out for all the details of this glorious city. 

 The fountain above, St. Peter's Fountain, located in the Square, was built in 1595 and symbolizes "thoughtful city government". It is hard to believe this incredibly old fountain is over a thousand years younger than the church pictured below. 

The church below is Germany's oldest Christian church and was built in A.D. 326, after Christianity was legalized in the Roman empire in 312 A.D. Constantine ordered this church named St. Peters and the St. Peters in Rome to be built at the same time. 

The bells are fantastic! There is no sound like bells on a massive church in Europe. It penetrates your soul. By the way, I have been looking for a clock like the one above, I wonder if they would sell it to me..

 

I get overwhelmed by all the sights, sounds, smells and details in cities like this.. So much to see. Trier is incredibly stimulating to each and every one of your senses.

I just had to get a picture of this awesome little car, it fit in perfectly!

The gaudy pink palace below is the frosting on the cake of this elegant city...

You must check out the Imperial Baths (below right). It is hallway after hall way, many underground, of a ruined old bath house that cost too much to ever be completed. Constantine originally designed it to be the most lavish bath house in all of Trier. It was engineered to keep the water temperature at an extremely warm 120 degrees Fahrenheit. 

Other places to see in Trier include:

-The Basilica- Imperial Throne Room (the largest in-tact Roman Structure outside of Rome). It was heavily destroyed during WWII, but was once decorated lavishly with marble, gold mosaics and bursts of colorful stucco. It was ingeniously designed and constructed, and could hold the Porta Negra comfortably inside its walls. 

-The birth place of Karl Marx.

-The amphitheater which held many religious festivals and sat at least 16,000 people.

-The Archaeological Museum which holds the best collection of Roman art in all of Germany.

-The Bishops museum which contains the pieced together remains of the frescos that were once decorating the ceiling of St Helena's Palace.

When in Germany, hit up Trier, you WON'T be disappointed! We sure weren't!

Signing off!