Explorations of the impressive ancient ruins of Augusta Treverorum.
Trier is said to be the oldest city in Germany. Founded by Augustus (yep, that Augustus) in around 18/17 BCE and given the name Augusta Treverorum. Construction boomed in the 1st century CE and we can still see some of those ruins even today.
Trier became an important city in the area because of its central location, perfect for trading. The city continued to be during the late Roman empire as it was made a capital city for much of western Europe and northern Africa. Constantine the Great stayed in the city often after becoming emperor. He had a ridiculous palace, even by Roman standards, built to show off. Roman emperors continued to be frequent guests of Trier. The Franks would eventually end up sacking the city in the 5th century. At least they left us some ruins to look at.
Aula Palatina
The Aula Palatina (a.k.a. Basilica of Constantine) was originally built in between 300-310 CE as part of Constantine’s palace. It probably held events and banquets. There was probably an imperial throne in the apse. Many modern churches are built off the design of an Ancient Roman basilica. The Aula Palantina has had a very long life, but it has not stayed as intact as it appears so. Much of the basilica has been rebuilt, due to renovations to the Bishop’s palace next door and WWII. It was probably highly decorated when it was finished. However, since WWII, it has been fairly plain. Even though it’s not all original, still pretty cool.
Jana Irving Early morning sun through the windows. I went out early on a Sunday morning. Basically had the town to myself.
Jana Irving The basilica is now incorporated into the Baroque Bishop’s palace (Kurfürstliches Palais).
Jana Irving Got inside a different day. The first restoration clad the entire church in marble. Now it’s simple brick.
Porta Nigra
The Porta Nigra (Black Gate) was constructed as one of the four city gates in around 170 CE. It is now the only one that remains. Stones from the old Roman gates were robbed out in the early Middle Ages. However, the Porta Nigra was saved because a hermit, Simeon, decided the gate was going to be his home around 1028 CE. After Simeon was sainted, a monastery was built next to the gate and the gate was turned into two double stacked churches. Napoleon ordered it returned to its Roman form in 1804.
Jana Irving The view of the Porta Nigra from the town side.
Jana Irving The view you would see entering Trier.
Jana Irving Some of the Romanesque churches survived Napoleon’s order, like this apse.
Jana Irving They created the churches by putting in floors over the inner courtyard of the gate.
Jana Irving Some of the church decorations were carved into the stone of the gate.
Jana Irving Pathway between the towers.
Jana Irving The upper church had even more decoration. It was reserved for the monks.
Jana Irving The medieval apse of the lower church.
Jana Irving What the gate looked like as a church. The main gates were buried, making the lower church the main level.
Imperial Baths
The Imperial Baths (Kaiserthermen) were constructed during the reign of Constantine the Great. The early 4th century baths were never fully completed and were turned incorporated into the city walls in the medieval period. I’ve been to plenty of Roman baths, but this one has something unique.
Jana Irving The baths are still in the old city walls.
Jana Irving The very impressive apse, which is also extremely reconstructed.
Jana Irving If you’ve seen the Baths of Constantine in Rome, these ruins are a bit meh.
Jana Irving Until you find out you can go in the old tunnels.
Jana Irving Very cool down here. It’s amazing these still survive.
Jana Irving The tunnels were used to move around the heated air and water for the baths.
Jana Irving A look at the apse from the other side.
Amphitheater
The amphitheater of Trier was built into the side of a convenient hill around the 2nd century CE. It could accommodate about 20,000 spectators at one time.
Jana Irving I’m not sure if it had wooden seating or stone that got robbed out. It honestly can be either one.
Jana Irving It was built using stone and Roman concrete. The concrete was set using molds made of wooden boards, leaving a lined look. The ceilings of the tunnels at the Imperial baths were also constructed this way.
Jana Irving If you look closely, you may find the patterns left from the roughly sawed wood.
Jana Irving Under the arena was an area used for the production of the games. There was an accident drainage system constructed, so it wouldn’t have been this damp down there.
Jana Irving The amphitheater from above.
Forum Baths
The Forum Baths (Thermen Am Viehmarkt) were discovered during construction in 1987. They were located near the Forum of Ancient Trier and were constructed around the 2nd century CE. Many of the stones that made up the building were later reused for new construction in the medieval era so not much survives. The site was also used for a monastery. The ruins are a bit confusing.
Jana Irving From the 17th century monastery.
Jana Irving The original floor of the baths.
Jana Irving The cold water pool.
Jana Irving Part of the old drainage system for the pools.
Barbara Baths
The Barbara Baths are another set of baths found in Trier. The Romans took their bathing seriously. It was the largest baths north of the Alps. Built in the early 2nd century, not much remains of this bath house.
Jana Irving This was a very large hall. The site is explored through a raised pathway that goes over the site.
Jana Irving No idea what this was.
Jana Irving I want to go into that tunnel. I wonder if it’s like the tunnels at the Imperial Baths.
Roman Bridge
The Roman Bridge (Römerbrücke) was built in the 2nd century CE to replace an older wooden bridge. This makes the Roman Bridge the oldest standing bridge in Germany and the oldest north of the Alps. The road bed has been renovated a couple of times since then.
Jana Irving I love that the pillars of the bridge were never removed. I love this.
Jana Irving The Roman Bridge was the third Roman bridge over the Moselle. This piling is from the second, dated to 71 CE.
Even more Romanness can be found at the Rheinisches Landesmuseum (Rhineland State Museum), including the piling above. It took me several hours to see the entire museum, which also has artifacts from the prehistoric through the medieval era. I highly recommend. The Cathedral of Trier also has its foundations from the late Roman period (next post).
Even though I knew that Trier had a bunch of Roman ruins, I was still surprised at their quality. It’s not something you expect in Germany.
Check my next update where I explore the rest of Trier!
or
Start at the beginning of this European adventure!
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