Trier

Trier is a historic city in west central Germany, just six miles from the Luxembourg border and 120 miles SW of Frankfurt. Trier makes a manageable, and very worthwhile, day trip from Cologne or Frankfurt.

Trier is Germany's oldest city. According to legend, in 2000 BC the Assyrians established a colony here. The Roman colony of Augusta Treverorum (Trier) was founded under Augustus in 16 BC. Trier became a favored residence of several Roman emperors and eventually became known as "the second Rome." Trier was an imperial capital of Constantine the Great, the first Christian Roman Emperor, and the church he built here in the 4th century AD (Trier Cathedral) is Germany's oldest.

After Germanic tribes destroyed the city in the 5th century, the great city became a small town. It still feels pleasantly small today, despite its thriving population of 100,000. Trier's market square (Hauptmarkt) is one of the most pleasant in Germany, filled with fruit stands, flowers, painted facades, and fountains. Catholic pilgrims still come to Trier in large numbers to honor the relic of the Holy Robe at the Dom St. Peter and the tomb of St. Matthias in the Benedictine church named for him.

	Trier Map A high-resolution satellite map of Trier, with streets and major sights marked.
	Trier Fast Facts Some basic facts and statistics about Trier.
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	Germany Car Rental Guide Rent a car in Cologne or Frankfurt and explore Trier and other nearby sights in your own time.
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	Aula Palatina (Constantine Basilica) Built in 310, this huge brick structure was the throne hall of Constantine and other Roman emperors. Today it is used as a Protestant church.
	Bischöfliches Museum Once a Prussian prison, this museum near the cathedral houses the excellent art collection of the Diocese of Trier, including much early Christian art.
	Dom St. Peter (Trier Cathedral) Originally built by Constantine, this is the oldest church in Germany. It houses an array of artworks and a holy relic that still receives many pilgrims: the Holy Robe of Christ.
	Jews' Alley (Judengasse) An arched alleyway leads into the Jewish Quarter, where Jews have lived periodically since as early as the 2nd century AD.
	Liebfrauenkirche This 13th-century parish church is separated from the cathedral by a narrow passageway. Built in the Gothic style, it is more aesthetically pleasing than its older neighbor.
	Rheinisches Landesmuseum According to Frommer's Germany, this Roman museum in Trier is "one of the outstanding museums of Roman antiquities north of the Alps." It houses tombs, mosaics and more.
	Porta Nigra This unique sight is a 2nd-century Roman city gate. It owes its survival to its use by a revered hermit monk, and was later turned into a two-story church.
	St. Matthias Abbey This lovely 12th-century church, part of an active Benedictine abbey, houses the relics of St. Matthias, the apostle who was chosen to replace Judas Iscariot. It is still visited by many pilgrims.
	Stadtbibliothek (Municipal Library) This city library contains a number of important collections from old monastic libraries, including 74 full-page miniatures of the famous Trier Apocalypse and a copy of the Gutenberg Bible.