10/6/19 Sunday. Trier, Germany. Grand Circle Day 12. Total travel Day 41. Ave. Temp. 60 high, 47 low. Average chance of clouds 40%, 26% rain. Phone says I walked 3.3 miles and took 7,840 steps and climbed 4 floors.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Accommodations: River Ship
TOUR INFO "After breakfast, partake in an informative onboard Discovery Series discussion about the European Union and Energy. Then disembark your ship for a walking tour of Trier. Settlements were first established here during the third millennium before Christ, and the Roman Emperor Augustus founded a thriving city in 15 BC.
During your walking tour, you’ll see Roman Emperor Constantine’s massive basilica, erected in AD 310. You’ll also stop by the imposing Porta Nigra (Black Gate), a towering gateway built around AD 200—now the largest surviving city gate from Roman times. The Black Gate served not only as a means of protection but also as a symbol of strength and power.
Cap off your morning excursions with an included lunch at a local restaurant (Zum Domstein) before taking the rest of the day to pursue your own interests. Visit the pedestrian-only Market Square, one of the most magnificent squares in all of Germany, and admire its central fountain, built in 1595."
Dinner is aboard the ship this evening.
Please note: It is not always possible to dock in Trier, so we sometimes dock in Riol or Schweich. If that happens, you will be transferred to Trier by bus and all program features will remain as scheduled."
*I did attend the talk this morning about European Union and Energy, but it seems the more I hear about the EU, the less I know.
We are docked in Riol and were bused to Trier, Germany's oldest city, for a walking tour of Trier. Settlements were first established here during the third millennium before Christ, and the Roman Emperor Augustus founded a thriving city in 15 BC.
My info. Trier, Germany is located on the banks of the Moselle in a valley between low vine-covered hills of red sandstone. It is a city-wide UNESCO Site. Trier may be the oldest city in Germany. In the 4th century BC, the Celts may have been the founders. Roman Emperer Augustus took over in the first century BC. In the 4th century AD, the population was almost 100,000.
Porta Nigra (Black Gate) is a large, sandstone gate from the Roman city. It is the largest Roman gate north of the Alps. It is part of a UNESCO site. It was built after 170 AD. Interestingly enough, the gate was never finished, stones on the outer side of the gate were never abraded. When no longer used in the Middle Ages it was partially disassembled. To save it, Porta Nigra was made a church. Napolean Bonapart ordered it to be converted back to its Roman form. Tours are available in the summer. There are two semi-circular towers and you can climb up the four stories of the larger tower.
Aula Palatina was the audience Hall for Emperor Constantine's palace. It measures 33 meters in height by 67 meters in length. It is the oldest building still being used, now as a Protestant church. Attached is the Electoral Palace, an excellent example of Rococo art in Germany.
During your walking tour, you’ll see Roman Emperor Constantine’s massive basilica, erected in AD 310. You’ll also stop by the imposing Porta Nigra (Black Gate), a towering gateway built around AD 200—now the largest surviving city gate from Roman times. The Black Gate served not only as a means of protection but also as a symbol of strength and power.
After the morning excursions we had lunch at a local restaurant (Zum Domstein) before taking the rest of the day to pursue your own interests. Visit the pedestrian-only Market Square, one of the most magnificent squares in all of Germany, and admire its central fountain, built in 1595." My local guide was knowledgeable, maybe too knowledgeable as he gave us a bit too much information about the Romans. Sadly, he realized he was losing listeners and did not adjust. I think Roman history must be his specialty or maybe there is nothing else of interest in Trier.My info. Trier, Germany is located on the banks of the Moselle in a valley between low vine-covered hills of red sandstone. It is a city-wide UNESCO Site. Trier may be the oldest city in Germany. In the 4th century BC, the Celts may have been the founders. Roman Emperer Augustus took over in the first century BC. In the 4th century AD, the population was almost 100,000.
As a tourist, today is a bit of a disappointment. Restaurants and churches are the only places open on a Sunday. I am actually happy for shop owners as they have a day off every week and can pay attention to their families. The weather today was drizzling or cloudy while we were in Trier. Most of us came back to the ship for the afternoon after our lunch in the restaurant. With nothing open and rain, it was an easy decision.
Porta Nigra (Black Gate) is a large, sandstone gate from the Roman city. It is the largest Roman gate north of the Alps. It is part of a UNESCO site. It was built after 170 AD. Interestingly enough, the gate was never finished, stones on the outer side of the gate were never abraded. When no longer used in the Middle Ages it was partially disassembled. To save it, Porta Nigra was made a church. Napolean Bonapart ordered it to be converted back to its Roman form. Tours are available in the summer. There are two semi-circular towers and you can climb up the four stories of the larger tower.
Aula Palatina was the audience Hall for Emperor Constantine's palace. It measures 33 meters in height by 67 meters in length. It is the oldest building still being used, now as a Protestant church. Attached is the Electoral Palace, an excellent example of Rococo art in Germany.
Porta Nigra/Black Gate, the picture above is the inside of the gate. There was an exterior gate on the other side that was iron and an interior gate on this side that was wood. Notice the arches are about 3 meters thick in the picture below. The stone is sandstone and because it has magnesium in the stone, it turns blackish.
A story, true or not true. There is a little window in the arched “window” on the right hand side near the bottom. A special hermit lived there. He came from the Holy Lands looking for money. The Emperor asked the man to guide him to the Holy Lands. They were gone for two years. When the man returned to Trier with the Emperor, the man crawled in the window to be a hermit and let happen what may. The people brought him food and drink for five years before he died. They would include a note that asked the hermit to pray for them.
Out side of the Black Gate.
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| Interior of the Black Gate between outside gate and inside gate. |
Aula Palatina today is being refurbished. Our guide said part of the reason the building is still standing is that the walls are three meters thick and it was too much work to try to remove them. The mortar of these walls just gets stronger with time.
Picture of Aula Palatina showing what they think it looked like in Roman Times.
The Protestant Church, today. Notice the size of the people compared to the size of the room.
The Electoral Palace. There is significance to the figures included in the facade. At the very top, the women represent the four times of day. Far right, morning shielding her eyes from the sun. To far left, perhaps getting ready to go out or coming in from a night out. Above the doorway the four figures represent the seasons. Far right is spring to far left is winter. Mid left is Fall with the harvest. Far left has heavy hats on to depict winter.
Our guide says there is no explanation of this figure. It would remind one of the Sphinx.
Historic buildings around town have many modern stores on the first level.
Nice old building on the corner with McDonald’s on the first floor.
Market Square above and below
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| St. George, Dragon tamer on top, fours seasons on the bottom |
The Post Office.
Trier Cathedral. “Baroque chapel for the relic of the The Holy Robe of Jesus, recovered from the previous main altar in 1512, was added behind the east choir and is visible through an opening in the wall.” From Wikipedia
This was behind the choir. Through the top opening, I could see sculptures and frescoes.
Cathedral of Trier has three Romanesque naves with Gothic vaults and some Baroque touches like the stuccowork vault of the western choir. Liebfrauenkirche is on the south wall. The building has a circular plan with circular portals. The altar niche combines to form the outline of a 12-petalled rose. The twelve supporting columns are painted with the twelve apostles.
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| Baroque stucco-work in the vault of the west choir ceiling |
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| Cathedral of Trier 1,700 yrs of history. |
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| Metternich Altar |
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| Karl Marx used to live in the house that is now the EuroShop which is like a Dollar Store |
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Trier may be the oldest city in Germany. In the 4th century BC, the Celts may have been the founders. Roman Emperer Augustus took over in the first century BC. In the 4th century AD, the population was almost 100,000.
As a tourist, today is a bit of a disappointment. Restaurants and churches are the only places open on a Sunday. I am actually happy for shop owners as they have a day off every week and can pay attention to their families. The weather today was drizzling or cloudy while we were in Trier. Most of us came back to the ship for the afternoon after our lunch in the restaurant. With nothing open and rain, it was an easy decision.
Trier Imperial Baths from the 4th century are in superb condition for their age. Barbara Baths were the second largest baths in the Roman world. I did not see these. Trier Amphitheater is just past the Imperial Baths. It dates to the second half of the 3rd century. I did not see these.
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