Trier

Standing at the western end of the Mosel Valley, Trier existed 1,300 years before Rome. Of course, in time Julius Caesar's Rhine brigade eventually found the place, deciding that it was a great spot to hang out between battles. These soldiers turned Trier into Roma Secunda, a second Rome north of the Alps. Plenty of Roman antiquities remain to attest to their presence, and the Altstadt or Old Town is one of the most walkable in Germany (little pint-sized Karl Marx used to run playing through its streets). The glory days of the 4th century are long gone, however. That was when Constantine lived here, making Trier the capital of the ...

Standing at the western end of the Mosel Valley, Trier existed 1,300 years before Rome. Of course, in time Julius Caesar's Rhine brigade eventually found the place, deciding that it was a great spot to hang out between battles. These soldiers turned Trier into Roma Secunda, a second Rome north of the Alps. Plenty of Roman antiquities remain to attest to their presence, and the Altstadt or Old Town is one of the most walkable in Germany (little pint-sized Karl Marx used to run playing through its streets). The glory days of the 4th century are long gone, however. That was when Constantine lived here, making Trier the capital of the Western Empire. Many monuments remain, including baths, barracks, lots of churches, palaces, and even an amphitheater. In spite of its long history, and its works of art, including Renaissance and baroque treasures, Trier is no sterile museum relic lost in its past. It is a lively university town with beer taverns and good fun after dark. In the unlikely event you should ever get bored here, Trier stands at the gateway to some of the most beguiling vineyards and romantic villages in Germany.

About the Expert

Darwin Porter and Danforth Prince have written many guidebooks for Frommer's, including Frommer's France and Frommer's Germany.