March 2002
Trier, Germany
On 29 and 30 March 2002 we went to Trier in Germany, where we saw the Porta Nigra, roman baths, Landesmuseum, Amphitheater, Cathredral, Basilica and Electoral Palace.
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1/23 We left early in the morning and drove to through Belgium to Trier.
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2/23 This is our hotel, Berghotel Kockelsberg on top of the Kockelsberg, with a beautiful view of the city from our room.
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3/23 After checking in to the hotel we went into the city. First we walked around the market place, which is one of the most beautiful old German squares. The large tower shown here is from the Gothic Gangolfskirche.
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4/23 From the market place we walked along the shopping street, Simeonstrasse, to the Porta Nigra. It was built in the 2nd century AD and was one of the gates of the old Roman city wall around Trier.
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5/23 For the Porta Nigra huge stones were piled up and joined without mortar. They fit by means of iron and spun lead. As you can see here the inside is decorated beautifully with wall carvings.
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6/23 View down Simeonstrasse from the Porta Nigra. Before this we had taken a tour of the city with the Roemer-express.
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7/23 Over 1600 years ago, the Romans built one of the grandest and most impressive baths in the world: the Imperial Baths.
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8/23 You can descend into the subterranean labyrinth, which is where we are here.
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9/23 An outer wall of the Kaiserthermen as viewed from the inside.
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10/23 Built in 100 AD this ampitheater is the oldest Roman structure in Trier. Cruel games with animal and gladiator combats were conducted here as popular public entertainment. Twelve arched cages inserted into the wall housed the wild animals.
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11/23 The Electoral Palace is considered one of the most beautiful rococo palaces in the world. Construction was begun in 1614. We only saw the garden which was very beautiful.
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12/23 The Basilica, Constantine's throne room, is the largest surviving single-room structure from Roman times. It was really impressive to see.
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13/23 These are The Cathedral and the Liebfrauenkirche. The Cathedral was begun in the 11th century and the church of Our Lady is the first example of French Gothic in Germany, construction begun in 1235 on the site of an older church.
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14/23 Back at the hotel we had a beautiful view of the city. This photo is from our room and you can see the Porta Nigra (center), Cathedral and Basilica (far right).
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15/23 Some of the extremely nice decorative architecture of Trier.
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16/23 The entrance to a church from the market square.
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17/23 The Barbarathermen were built in the second century as the then largest Roman baths. Only one third of the original facility has been excavated.
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18/23 The Roman Bridge (Roemerbruecke) served as a crossing since the 2nd century.
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19/23 Here we are at the Viehmarktthermen. These recently discovered baths were part of the old Roman Forum of Trier and are now covered in a large glass building.
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20/23 A beautiful fountain in one of Trier's squares.
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21/23 The entrance to the Landesmuseum, where we spent the remainder of our Sunday afternoon in Trier.
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22/23 The Landesmuseum is one of the most valued archilogical museums in Germany because of its rich collection of ancient sculptures. There were also impressive mosaics.
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23/23 The museum was close to the Electoral Palace. Here we are walking back to the car.
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