Trier Germany

Trier is Germany's oldest city & about 3 hours north/west from Stuttgart.  It's been one of the places that we had wanted to visit for a while.  It's a good overnight trip.  A city easily seen in one day if you soak it in or a quick afternoon.  In the Mosel Valley & right on the Mosel River.  Gorgeous area, reminds me of the vineyards of the Columbia river valley.  Essentially this city is where Rome meets Germany.  Rome's influence spread this far west.  Most specifically known for it's Black Gate, the Porta Nigra from 16 A.D. (see above) the last standing gate of what used to be 4 incorporated into a wall that surrounded the city.  It's quite a sight to behold something that old outside of Rome.  There is also an Ampitheater from 200 A.D. , Roman Baths, former Throne room of Emperor Constantine & a church said to hold the shroud of Christ.  More recent history is Karl Marx house.  The central Market Square is considered one of the prettier ones in Germany.  We had a fun time exploring & even enjoyed going into the Church where a kind gentleman/tour guide approached us & gave us a free tour with wonderful history that we would not have gotten from exploring ourselves.  We were very fortunate.  And on our way home the next day we stopped at Ramstein Air Base & ate lunch at Chili's!  As much as we have traveled & seen some amazing things it's always a treat to get 'our American on too'....& were not ashamed to appreciate it.

House of the Three Magi.  Back in that time people kept their money at home.  This has a floating door above the one on the ground.  They could easily pull in the stairs if they were being robbed or attacked.

The Porta Nigra or Black Gate from 16 A.D

The Dom was built over several different eras & was represented with many different types of architecture

Inside the Dom.  There was a choir practicing that day.  It was so wonderful.  You can go enjoy the beauty of these churches but you hearing singing in them & the acoustics you really know what the design is meant for...gives you goosebumps.

Sitting in one of the cloisters outside the church

The nice gentleman that gave us a tour

Throne Room to Emperor Constantine.  Now a prodestant church

Beautiful Gardens off the palace & throne room

In the 1800s they built a Baroque Palace onto the throne room.  To vastly different types of architecture

Entrance to the Roman Baths from around 200 A.D.  It was winter & unfortunately they were closed because of shorter hours.

So we got creative, peeking over & through the hedge...

Roman Bath ruins

The leaves had just fallen from the trees & there were huge piles everywhere.  Provided lots of free entertainment for the kids.

At dinner

There were old cranes along the Mosel River near the Roman Bridge.  One was from around 1400 & another 1800.  It was how they lifted goods off the barges.  There were wheels inside that a person would walk in to operate the crane.

Roman Amphitheater from 200 AD.  Where gladiator fights were held but mostly religious festivals. 

Under the amphitheater where the gladiators waited & where gear was kept