Trier Travel Guide

I went to Germany not expecting to fall in love with it. I thought it would be cold and antiseptic and, well, Germanic. And my first stop, in Trier, wiped the slate entirely clean. Trier has been occupied since Roman times (the most notable evidence of which is the Porta Nigra, a former city gate). It's a lovely city for wandering about, and its cathedral is, if you're into ecclesiastical architecture, a marvel of Romanesque style, blunt but elegant and haunting in its austerity. The surrounding countryside is what stole my heart, though. The Mosel river, to me, tops the Rhine in scenic value. The slate bluffs are ideal for growing the grapes that go into the incredible white wines of the region (this is an ideal place to go for an on-site education in Rieslings, Gewurtztraminers, Eisweins, etc.). Come to Trier and you will leave enchanted.

An often overlooked place, it is stunning. There are several Roman bridges that are original and still in use 2000 years later. The town entrance is dominated by a huge 3-story black stone Roman gateway that you can tour. A 10 minute walk into the country reveals an excavated coliseum where you can walk through the slave quarters and imagine being the next victim. Features an incredible Roman bath structure with an amazing underground heating system that you can walk through. The attached museum is interesting for Roman buffs. The surrounding countryside is pastoral and romantic, the train ride there from Berlin follows the river and every hilltop sports a castle or ruin.

On our way to Trier our guide took us off the beaten path to Berg Eltz. This is a castle that is untypical in the sense that it was built not on high ground but in a rather large gully. it has been owned by the same family since it was built and is open for a look. there is a gift shop and a small place to get a bite. The walk from the parking lot to the castle is long and all downhill one way, very steep, and all uphill back. fortunatley there is a van taxi that will run you down and back for a reasonable price. Well worth seeing.