Our Historic Highlights of Germany Guestbook series features summaries of articles and posts by visitors to our 17 heritage cities. Make sure to read the full stories and see all photos by visiting the respective author’s website, social media page/s, or original publishing outlet.
About the Author: Keith Jenkins is the creator of Velvet Escape, an award-winning travel blog that has been featured in The New York Times, National Geographic, BBC, and Mashable. His work focuses on culture, history, food, and wine across destinations worldwide.
Overview: Jenkins visited Trier as part of a rail tour along the Rhine and Moselle rivers, exploring four of Germany’s Historic Highlights. In this comprehensive guide, he presents Germany’s oldest city —founded by the Romans in 16 B.C. — as a remarkable tapestry of Roman monuments, medieval architecture, and one of Europe’s most celebrated wine regions.
What Keith Discovered in Historic Highlight of Germany Trier:
Roman Heritage
- Porta Nigra, among the best-preserved Roman city gates in the world, was built around 180 A.D.
- The Aula Palatina (Basilica of Constantine), an immense 4th-century throne hall measuring 67 metres long and 33 metres high
- An amphitheatre that once seated 20,000 spectators for gladiatorial contests
- Imperial Baths with subterranean tunnels revealing advanced Roman engineering
- The Roman Bridge, the oldest bridge north of the Alps, is still in use today
Medieval & Architectural Treasures
- Trier Cathedral, showcasing Roman, Romanesque, and Gothic elements across 17 centuries
- The Dreikönigenhaus, a 13th-century residence with its main door on the first floor (reached by ladder during medieval attacks)
- Hauptmarkt square with its 958 A.D. Market Cross and the cheeky Steipe knight statue
- The charming Zurlaubenufer riverside neighbourhood with 18th-century houses
Wine & Culinary Scene
- The Weinstand at Hauptmarkt, where local wineries rotate to showcase their wines
- Vereinigte Hospitien, Germany’s oldest wine cellar
- The Weinkulturpfad hiking trail through Petrisberg vineyards
- Recommended dining at Weinstube Kesselstatt, Weinwirtschaft Friedrich-Wilhelm, and Textorium
Practical Notes: Jenkins recommends a minimum two-night stay and suggests purchasing the Antikencard for access to Roman sites and the State Museum. The article includes a detailed two-day itinerary and self-guided walking route.
Read the full story: velvetescape.com