Trier Day Trip

Trier Trip

Friday we headed north to Trier, the oldest city in Germany. It was founded by Romans in 16 B.C. and later became a very large and important city in the Roman Empire. Presently, it is also famous for its massive vineyards and wine selections. It is a little over an hour from where we live. The first thing you see when you come to the city center is the huge Porta Nigra or gate to the city. Built around 180without the use of mortar this thing is nuts! Click here for more info about the Porta Nigra (pretty interesting stuff!).

We made a quick stop at the visitor center just inside the gate to buy a city map and then started wandering. The buildings fascinate me, they are so intricate and different from the ones you get used to seeing back in the US. The city center and market were full of people walking around and taking in the sights. Lots of places to eat and shop and be social. In Germany everything is a social event. On the way to the Roman Forum Baths we got lost and then found again when we discovered they were enclosed in a large glass building that looked like some huge office. Turns out they were buried during WWII by air raid shelters and were not rediscovered until 1987 when construction began on a parking garage and unearthed the ruins.

After wandering through town a little more we came to the Konstatine Basilika. Built in 310 for ruler Constantine's throne room, it is the largest surviving single-room structure from Roman times. You can read more about it here. The Roman Imperial Baths were the next place we saw, wow! Huge, like bigger than life huge. It was a giant massive area that at one time was a Roman social center were people would bathe, eat, play games and sports and socialize. There is a ton of history here at this place and the architecture for the time is unbelievable. Read more about them here. Next we saw the Amphitheater which is like a mini Roman Coliseum were similar games and executions were held.

Next we visited the Trier Cathedral. Absolutely amazing and beautiful. The art and sculptures, marble everywhere...it was fabulous. Shelby and I couldn't get over how ornate everything is and to know when it was built makes it even more incredible. Lastly we did a little riding around and discovered some great scenic overlooks. We stumbled across another Roman Villa Bath in the middle of a huge vinyard. Here Shelby decided to take home a little souvenir and stole some grapes from the vine.

Colin had a fun playing and riding around checking out the sights. He really enjoyed his lunch at a fish restaurant. He got fish, potatoes, green beans and chocolate pudding. When we got home that night we called the babysitter to come give him dinner and put him to bed on time so that we could go have dinner at a restaurant here in town. The restaurant we ate in is only open on the weekends and is always packed. Our friend who works at the bar down the street told us we had to go there and try the game meat. They offer wild boar, elk and other meats as well as schnitzel. Shelby got a steak and I had the schnitzel buffet so I got to sample a few kinds of schnitzel for the first time. After dinner we stopped in the bar for a few drinks and then headed home so we could get to bed and be rested for tomorrow's trip to Mainz.