Trier is considered to be oldest city in Germany and it has a fascinating history to match. Founded in 18 BC under the Roman Emperor Augustus, it is protected by a city wall with 5 gates. It has lived through 5 emperors and, under Constantine the Great, became the centre for the spread of Christianity north of the Alps. We will learn about all of this and more on a walking tour through the Roman streets of the city.

An important part of Roman life in Trier was a visit to the baths so the city has many different baths to choose from, both private or public, as well as the grand, monumental Imperial Baths, built into the city walls.

Next, we get a taste of the more barbaric side of Roman life at the city amphitheatre. Here, cruel battles between wild animals and gladiators were shown as a form of entertainment. Beneath the arena is a large cellar, where those sentenced to death were imprisoned alongside wild lions and tigers.

Our stroll through the old town continues on past the Petrus Tower and magnificent houses of the nobles and superiors of the church, to the cathedral square. The cathedral is marvellous and represents a period of more than 1650 years of art and architecture.

We reach the main market, the lively centre of the old town, often referred to as the most beautiful place in Germany. Here, we can admire the Franken Tower, a beautiful church and other town houses.

We round off the tour at the Black Gate, the “Porta Nigra”, the city’s largest and most powerful gate built in ancient Roman architectural style at 36 metres long, 21 metres wide and 30 metres high. This gate along with much of the beautiful city deservedly became a world cultural heritage site in 1973.