|
Trier
is a small city on the River Moselle where history is
all around you. It is the oldest city in Germany, a
centre in turn of Celtic, German and Latin cultures, and
a centre still of a great, enduring culture – that of
the vine.
Its
recorded history began in 16 BC when it was founded by
the Emperor Augustus, and there are impressive relics of
the Roman era to be seen. The Porta Nigra, a huge and
still formidable mass of stone, is the biggest Roman
gateway north of the Alps. The Imperial Baths, among the
largest in the whole empire, and the ruined
amphitheatre, which could hold 20,000, are well worth
seeing.
Trier’s massive Romanesque cathedral stands on genuine
Roman foundations, has a splendid Baroque interior, and
contains many rich treasures, including the so-called
“Holy Undivided Robe” of Christ.
Nearby is the Liebfrauenkirche, one of the first Gothic
churches to be built in Germany, while the Hauptmarkt,
with its half-timbered houses and elegant burghers’
mansions, is one of the loveliest market squares in
Germany
Trier
is a city of fine art collections. The Rhineland Museum
contains remarkable Roman antiquities, with particularly
good mosaics, while the Diocesan Museum and Cathedral
Treasury offer much fine ecclesiastical art.
On
application to the Trier Tourist Information Office, a
two-hour city walking-tour in English is available,
daily from May through October.
Around Trier are the ancient vineyards which have given
it an enduring reputation as a “wine-town”, and whose
golden product, tasted in friendly bars and taverns,
refreshes the modern holidaymaker who has just drunk in
the sights and atmosphere of this lovely city.
Trier
is also a fine base for exploring the romantic
countryside of the Moselle Valley, and it is
particularly well placed for excursions into the
picturesque Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, less than ten
miles away. |
