Overnight I developed a cold and sore throat.; my first in a year. Added to that it’s very cold and I don’t think I’ve brought the right clothes. I went in search of a scarf bur being a Sunday in Germany more or less everything was closed. Trier was a ghost town. Nevertheless I got coffee and it is a pleasant town to wander in. A UNESCO site for It’s exceptional Roman architecture considered to be the best preserved north of the Alps. Founded about 16BCE it was one of four major cities in the third and fourth centuries CE. It has Roman Baths and an amphitheatre in a good state of preservation.
However nothing daunted I set off climbing the hills from the hostel to the station which I’ll have to do again tomorrow morning. A good nights sleep is called for .
Trier is nestled in the Moselle valley and the hillsides are covered in vineyards and the journey was pleasant enough though the countryside hereabouts is quite uninspiring.
The cathedral, the oldest bishopric in Germany is partially built from Roman bricks while the massive westwork is from the 11th century; austere and imposing. Probably originally commissioned by Constantine the 11th century work is considered to be one of tbe earliest examples of Romanesque style. However I didn’t think it had the dignity of Speyer though it is a little earlier and hasn’t the Imperial grandeur imparted to Speyer by the Holy Roman Emperors
The Aula Palatina is a Basilica thought to be Constantine’s audience hall.
The cloisters of the cathedral were calm and quietwhile the gardens of the 18th century Elector’s Palace were beautifully cared for. I’m glad I visited.
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