Sunny Germany

Thursday 02 September 2021

Today was Germany day.  We drove Trier, Germany's oldest city and once the de facto capital of the Western European Roman Empire.  There are numerous Roman sites here including an amphitheatre, a huge stone gate Porta Nigra - known as the 'Black Gate' due to its stone colour -  and various Roman baths.  We came here a couple of years ago but it was lovely to re-visit in the sun and spend time enjoying the street cafes.  Some of the sites, such as the magnificent cathedral and beautiful German buildings in the city centre, I photographed on my last visit so the blog below is just a few extra snapshots of this trip.

We walked past the Electoral Palace, once home to Constantine the Great in 4th Century and home to various generations of archbishops.  It's obviously had quite a few refurbs/rebuilds during its life time.    

Pretty shiny and gold now.

Then on down to a less flashy part of Trier, the Kaiserthermen, Trier Imperial Baths.  Part is being refurbed, but most was open to exploration including the fascinating underground system of passages which were used to service the bath and channel the water.

After a lazy lunch in the town centre, we strolled by the Mosel coming across the Roman bridge, the oldest in the country apparently.  It dates from the 2nd Century although has had a few modifications since then.  On the way back to the car we came across another Roman bath complex which is being restored.  I'd love to bring a Roman enthusiast here - they'd have a ball.