Bishop's Museum, Trier
General view of 3rd-century Roman fresco, the museum's star attraction.
Detail of Roman fresco.
A lady admires her reflection in the Roman fresco.
Carolingian fresco of St. John.
Early Christian epitaph.
General view of an upper room in the museum.
Location map and aerial view of Bishop's Museum. For a larger interactive view, see our Trier Map.
The Bischöfliches Museum (Bishop's Museum) is housed in a 19th-century building near Trier Cathedral. Once a Prussian prison, the building now houses the art collection of the Diocese of Trier, including much early Christian art.
The museum easy to miss due to its out-of-the-way location and minimal signage, but it is an excellent museum and one of the most interesting attractions in Trier.
What to See
The museum's prize possession is a 3rd-century ceiling fresco from the imperial palace over which Trier Cathedral was built. The fresco was rediscovered in 1945, and some 70,000 pieces were painstakingly reassembled over the following decades.
Another highlight is the reconstructed crypt of the Benedictine church of St. Maximin, which has important 9th-century Carolingian wall paintings.
The sepulcher of Bishop Karl von Metternich, who represented the archbishopric during the Thirty Years' War, is also worth a look.
A collection of Roman textiles and medieval church vestments, original Early Gothic statues from the Liebfrauenkirche, as well as the creations of sculptors, ivory carvers, and goldsmiths over the centuries complete the exhibits.
Quick Facts
Site Information |
| Names: | Bishop's Museum; Bischöfliches Dom- und Diözesanmuseum Trier |
| Location: | Trier, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany |
| Category: | Museums |
| Faiths: | Original/Primary: Museum Current/Secondary: Christianity |
| Architecture: | Roman, Paleochristian |
Visitor Information |
| Coordinates: | 49.75654° N, 6.645039° E (view on Google Maps) |
| Address: | Windstraße 6-8, D-54290 Trier, Germany |
| Phone: | +49(0)651/7105-255 |
| Website: | www.bistum-trier.de/museum/ |
| E-mail: | museum@bgv-trier.de |
| Hours: | Mon-Sat 9am-5pm; Sun and holidays 1-5pm. Closed Mondays in winter (Nov 1-Mar 31). |
| Cost: | €3.50 adults; €2 concessions; €4 combo ticket with Cathedral Treasury |
| Photography: | Permitted |
| Facilities: | Gift shop; toilets |
Travel Resources for Trier
- Trier Map - our detailed interactive map of Trier, plus hand-picked links to more
- Trier Hotels - check availability, maps, photos and reviews, then book at the guaranteed lowest rate
- Trier Hostels - reserve budget lodgings with no booking fees
- Trier Car Rentals - get the lowest rate by comparing multiple car companies at a glance
- Trier Travel Forum - tips, answers and advice on Trier tourism
Article Sources
Article written by Holly Hayes with reference to the following sources:
- Personal visit (January 2, 2008).
- "Trier Attractions." Frommer's Germany 2006.
- Official Website (German)
- Video of the Bishop's Museum - CityGuide Trier
Article last updated: 10/27/2009.
