Cities & Culture
Trier: a charming city with so much Roman heritage
Founded in 16 BC during the reign of Roman Emperor Augustus, Trier is Germany's oldest city and an important site for ancient art treasures and monuments, such as the Porta Nigra, the best-preserved city gate from the ancient world.
Roman emperors and later bishops, electors and ordinary people have made Trier what it is today. A whole host of world-class architectural monuments – many of which have UNESCO World Heritage status – and art treasures have been preserved and tell moving tales of times gone by. Porta Nigra, the Amphitheatre and the famous Imperial Baths, where the Romans went to relax, all bear witness to Trier's extensive classical heritage. Medieval buildings, such as St. Peter's Cathedral – the oldest church in Germany – and the early-Gothic Church of Our Lady are also deeply impressive.
Trier is second to none when it comes to dining. Excellent wines from the Moselle, Saar and Ruwer wine-growing regions do of course play a key role here, while shops, cafés and bistros across the city entice visitors to stroll around or watch the world go by. A diverse mix of music, performing arts and entertainment is on offer in the city's cultural institutions and trendy clubs. In June, the Old City Festival is a sight to be seen on the Hauptmarkt square, which would ordinarily be lined with stalls selling flowers, fruit and vegetables six days a week. In late November, the aroma of gingerbread and mulled wine wafts through the narrow alleyways, which are adorned with festive lights and lined with rustic wooden stalls. There's no doubt that even Emperor Augustus would have loved it.