Trier

Trier is Germany's oldest city, founded by the Romans as Augusta Treverorum in 16 BC and rising to become the northern capital of the Western Roman Empire under Emperor Diocletian in the late third century. At its peak, the city housed 80,000 inhabitants — more than medieval London — and its monumental Roman remains are among the most impressive north of the Alps. The Porta Nigra, a massive sandstone city gate blackened by centuries of weathering, has stood sentinel over the city for nearly two thousand years. Karl Marx was born here in 1818, adding another layer to a city already deep with history.

The concentration of Roman heritage in Trier is extraordinary. The Aula Palatina, an immense brick hall built around 310 AD as the emperor's throne room, is the largest surviving single-room structure from antiquity. The Imperial Baths, the Amphitheater which once seated 20,000, and the Roman Bridge — the oldest bridge in Germany, still carrying traffic — compose a portfolio of ruins that transports visitors to the empire's twilight. The Rheinisches Landesmuseum houses treasures including the largest Roman gold hoard ever found in Germany.

Trier's culinary identity bridges the Moselle wine tradition with hearty German comfort food. Sauerbraten, pot-roasted beef marinated in vinegar and spices, is the Rhineland's emblematic dish. The Moselle's Rieslings dominate wine lists, and local Weinstuben offer tastings paired with regional charcuterie. Viez, the local apple cider with a tart, tannic edge, is Trier's distinctive contribution to German drinking culture. The Christmas market fills the old town with Glühwein and roasted almonds each December.

Excursions from Trier wind through the Moselle Valley's finest scenery. Luxembourg City lies forty-five minutes northeast. The wine villages of Bernkastel-Kues lie within an hour downstream. The Eifel volcanic region extends forty minutes north.

Trier is a port of call on Moselle river cruises. A-ROSA, AmaWaterways, Avalon Waterways, CroisiEurope, Cunard, Emerald Cruises, Riviera Travel, Tauck, TUI River Cruises, Uniworld River Cruises, Viking, and VIVA Cruises all include this Roman gem. Nearby stops include Bernkastel, Cochem, and Koblenz. The season runs from April through October.