Trier is the oldest city of Germany. On the wall of a one of the city’s houses there is inscription which claims that Trier was founded on 1300 years before the Rome and it will stand forever. This inscription came from the legend that Trier was founded by the Trebetom who was the son of the Semiramis.
Of course this is no more than a beautiful legend but the fact that Trier is oldest city in Germany is true. So when I visited the Germany Trier was among the list of my personal places to visit.
In reality Trier was founded in 1 century on the land of local tribe as a Romans military camp. It was named in honor of the imperor August - Augusta Treverorum.
Thanks to the strategic location (Trier was founded on the crossroad of few routs) the camp quickly turned into the big city. From the middle of the 1 century (after only a 50 years!!!) Trier became the capital of the Belgica Province. Here was the headquarter of the procurator who on behalf of the Rome ruled the lands of Belgica, Low and High Germany. “The richest city” – this is how Trier was called by Roman traveller who visited the city at 44 BC.
But for me the most interesting baths in the Trier – Imperial Baths. I even dedicated special article to these baths on this blog. I don’t want to repeat myself so let me be a concise here. Imperial Baths were built as part of Imerial Palace in the middle of the 4 BC. Today baths is the magnificent museum, the spectacular ruins which attract attention of the Trier’s sightseers. Especially in the rainy and gloomy days when you can explore complicated labyrinths of the bath’s underground passages.
For curious reader it’s time to ask a question – why in this small city in ancient times Romans built so many monuments? The answer is that in 4 BC the Constantine the Great had his residence here and he seriously thought to move the capital from Rome to Trier. And Trier was a really a great city. This was the place where scholars, sculptors, philosophers, musicians gathered from the all corners of the wide Roman Empire. It was a real international city. Another Roman monument in Trier – is Roman bridge across Moselle. It was developed immaculately and the bridge is still in the usage. In the 17 century, french troops which stormed the Trier tried to blow the bridge but the bridge withstood the attack.
Trier in the Middle Ages
In oppose to the fate of the many ancient cities Trier successfully survived the turbolent times of the Roman Empire collapse. The city was sacked a few times by germanic tribes but it didn't lead to its total destruction. Moreover, the Franks who occupied the Moselle region made the Trier their political and administrative center.
From those times also originates the Trier Cathedral, which is the oldest church in Germany with more then 1500 years of history. I’m not going to describe the Cathedral in details because I did it in another article I only want to mention that in the Cathedral stored the Holy Tunic. For me it’s enough reason to visit the place.
Another Sights of the Trier
In additional to already mentioned sights, you can see at Trier a lot of others interesting places. For example baroque church of St. Peter. The work on construction of this church began in the 1734 and completed in the 1757. The famous artists contributed their work into the decoration of the interior of the church.
One more interesting sight in Trier – is old cranes which is still work. Up to the 18 century Moselle was a busy trade road and cranes were needed to load and unload the ships. The Old Crane was built in 1413 and was in the service until 1774.
If you came to Trier in sunny day don’t miss your opportunity to spend some time at the Trier’s Electoral Palace. There are wonderful small park which originates from the 18 centure. In the park there are fontains, sculptures, lawns and tracks. Definitely you will not be disappointed by it.
