A day trip to Trier

The Rhine-Mosel river valleys are among the most productive vie growing areas of Germany, but we keep being reminded just how full of historical significance they are, too.

Having known nothing about Trier before our visit, I was happy to accept the advice given – take the ‘Noddy train’. It was there waiting for us as we walked through the Porta Nigra, a monument of interest itself, so we did as advised and spent a pleasant 50 minuted being introduced to Trier. This is Germany’s oldest city, thought to have been established between 58 and 60 AD. Today the ring road follows the line of the ancient city walls from the point of the Porta Nigra: the largest Roman city gate north of the Alps. It was built of sandstone from about 170AD. It guarded the northern entrance to the Roman city with three others protecting the other directions.

It was from here that we set off to see some of the ancient sites on the infamous Noddy train, seen below at the Porta Nigra later in the day.

The Roman ruins are extensive and we were taken out as far as the Amphitheatre, but easiest to photograph from the train was the palace of Helena, Emperor Constantine’s mother who is thought to have had a close association with the city and its cathedral.

Driving through the city we learnt that its most famous son is Karl Marx. His house is a museum and there is a statue near the Ponta Nigra that marks what would have been his 200th birthday.

This was a leisurely day of wanderings and of learning more about the city: whether through the ruins, its cafes and shops or its cathedral.

We enjoyed coffee in the main street on our walk to the Town Square where there were fruit sellers and the Market Cross, erected in 958, symbolising the market rights of its citizens. It is thought to be the oldest in Germany.

Walking down the cobbled street to our right ( after having a conversation with a young man canvassing votes for the mayoral election), we found some interesting shops and decorated houses.

The cathedral – or Dom (for Dominus Dei – House of God) – properly spoken of as the Cathedral of St. Peter is the oldest bishop’s church in Germany. Most precious among its many relics is the Holy Robe, declared to be the Robe of Christ which tradition says was brought by the Emperor’s mother, Helena. Mentioned first in the 11th century it is documented reliably from 12th when it was brought from the West Choir and placed into the new altar of the East Choir in 1196.

Since the renovation of the cathedral in 1974 the robe has been kept in a wooden shrine and the chapel is only open on special days. Normally the coffin shaped box is kept behind screen doors

As we entered the church a choir was singing and that feeling of worship was evident even in a building full of tourists wielding cameras and mobile phones.

The very age of the building is enough to make it special and the additions over the years – both ornate and simple – add to the recognition that this has been a place of worship almost since the time of the first Christians.

Once we had had our fill of this impressive building shopping was on the agenda as we had been told there was a shop with a restaurant and products just like John Lewis that was worth exploring. We did and had to agree it was OK and fitted the description pretty well.

We walked back to the coach through the Ponte Nigra

Before long we were back at the coach park boarding for the ride back to Koblenz. It wasn’t a long drive but the rain that had been threatening all day decided to come in force. When we arrived at the hotel our very competent and thoughtful driver managed to park with one of the exits right in line with the entrance to the hotel – definite gold stars for him for that move!