Sights in Trier
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Konstantinbasilika
The brick Konstantinbasilika was constructed in AD 310 as Constantine's throne hall. Its dimensions (67m long and 36m high) are truly mind-blowing considering that it was built by the Romans. Later part of the residence of Trier's prince-electors, it is now a typically austere Protestant church.
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Porta Nigra
Top billing among Trier's Roman monuments goes to the Porta Nigra, a brooding 2nd-century city gate that's been blackened by time (hence the name, Latin for 'black gate'). A marvel of engineering and ingenuity, it's held together by nothing but gravity and iron rods. In the 11th century, Archbishop Poppo converted the structure into St Simeonkirche, a church named in honour of a Greek hermit who spent a stint holed up in its east tower.
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Stadtmuseum Simeonstift
Completely renovated in 2007, it brings alive two millennia of local history with carefully chosen objects, many of them exquisite. Highlights include the Trier Kino (Trier Cinema), where you can see 78 short films of Trier, some made as far back as 1904. Admission includes a free audioguide in German, English or French.
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Hauptmarkt
A farmers' market is still held daily (except Sunday) on the Hauptmarkt. Anchored by a festive fountain dedicated to St Peter and the Four Virtues, it's hemmed in by medieval and Renaissance architectural treasures such as the Rotes Haus (Red House) and the Steipe, a former banqueting hall that's now the home of the Spielzeugmuseum.
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Barbarathermen
Diehard thermal bath devotees will appreciate the Barbarathermen, closed for renovations at the time of research. In the meantime you can look over the fence at the foundations, cellars and floor-heating system, all of which survived a 17th-century raid for stones to build a school.
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Kurfürstliches Palais
The Kurfürstliches Palais, a pink rococo confection entered from the south (garden) side, looks out over the lawns, pools and fountains of the formal Palastgarten (palace garden), perfect for sunbathing on warm summer days.
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Dom
A block east of the Hauptmarkt looms the fortresslike Dom, built above the palace of Constantine the Great's mother, Helena. The present structure is mostly Romanesque with some soaring Gothic and eye-popping baroque embellishments.
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Amphitheater
The Roman Amphitheater was once capable of holding 20,000 spectators during gladiator tournaments and animal fights - or when Constantine the Great crowned his battlefield victories by feeding his enemies to voracious animals.
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Rheinisches Landesmuseum
The Rheinisches Landesmuseum affords an extraordinary look at local Roman life. Highlights include a scale model of 4th-century Trier and rooms filled with tombstones, mosaics, rare gold coins and some fantastic glass.
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Dreikönigenhaus
The 13th-century Dreikönigenhaus is a late Gothic residence with a geometrically painted facade. Originally, the entrance was up on the 1st floor, reachable by stairs that could be retracted in case of danger.
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Liebfrauenkirche
This is one of Germany's earliest Gothic churches. The cruciform structure is supported by a dozen pillars symbolising the 12 Apostles and, despite its strict symmetry, has a light, mystical quality.
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Thermen Am Viehmarkt
Found by accident in the 1980s during the construction of a parking garage, the Thermen am Viehmarkt are sheltered by a dramatic glass cube.
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Städtisches Museum Simeonstift
The Städtisches Museum Simeonstift illustrates eight centuries of city history and also has collections of Coptic textiles and East Asian sculpture.
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Bischöfliches Dom- Und Diözesanmuseum
The prized exhibit here is a 4th-century Roman ceiling from Helena's palace, in vivid colours, that was pieced together from countless fragments.
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Domschatz
To see some dazzling ecclesiastical equipment and peer into early Christian history, head to the Domschatz.
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Römerbrücke
The Römerbrücke is the successor to a 2nd-century bridge, five of whose original seven pylons are still extant.
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Spielzeugmuseum
The Spielzeugmuseum is chock full of miniature trains, dolls and other childhood delights.
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St-Gangolf-Kirche
The Gothic St-Gangolf-Kirche is reached via a flowery portal on the Hauptmarkt.
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Karl-Marx-Haus
The early-18th-century baroque town house in which the author of Das Kapital was born is now the Karl-Marx-Haus, whose exhibits take a highbrow, dialectical look at Marx, the meaning of his intellectual and political legacy, and social democracy. Admission includes a free audio- guide that opens with the stirring cadences of L'Internationale; it's available in six languages, including that spoken by fully one third of visitors, Chinese (not at all surprising if you think about it). Well worth a stop if you're trying to figure out whether Barack Obama really is bringing socialism to America - or if you're in the market for a bust of Marx, or a Marx coffee mug, or a Marx co…
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Kaiserthermen
On the southern edge of the Palastgarten stands the Kaiserthermen, a vast thermal bathing complex created by Constantine. The striped brick-and-stone arches, once part of the caldarium, make you feel like you're at the Forum in Rome. You can get a sense of the layout from the lookout tower.
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