Neumagen-Dhron to Trier 10-4-11

The Mosel along the trail

Villa Rustica at Mehring on the Roman wine road.

Villa Rustica dates from the 2nd century.

Bust dug up around Roman ruins and stood along the trail.  There were several.

The Porta Nigra, One of the city gates to Roman Trier.  The Roman city had a 4 mile wall around it with 5 gates.  This was the only gate to survive the demolition of the Roman fortifications during the middle ages

Dreikoenigenhaus or the 3 wise men or magi. 

The Market Cross, symbol of the city centre

St Peter's Fountain, The patron saint of the city at the top

The renaissance"red house" and the Steipe

McDonalds

St. Peter's Cathedral

Church of our Lady

Basilika, Roman Audience Hall and throne room.  This was the reception hall for the Roman Emperors that resided here from 286 until the end of the 4th century.  It is 236 x 108 ft. and was estimated to be 110 high in ancient times. 

The electoral palace.  The Basilika had served as residence for the Archbishops until Metternich decided he needed more room.  He had some of the Basilka torn down and built a palace with 4 wings of which only 2 have survived. 

The Imperial baths covers and area 825' by 480' and was originally intended as baths to be used by the people of Trier.  But the water systems never got in and the building was abandoned until middle of the 4th century when it started again but ended up as barracks buildings for the mounted imperial bodyguards.  

The imperial baths

The electoral Palace garden from the front door.

After breakfast we left our nice little hotel Anker and back on the trail towards Trier.   The trail follows the river and thru the vineyards.  We are on the Roman wine road.  Lots of Roman artifacts and wine making equipment have been found there among them the Neumagen wine ship.  We stopped in Mehring to visit the ruins of the villa Rustica, a Roman villa with bath house.  We're not too far from Trier and the traffic is becoming heavy and is always a bit stressful after biking along the quiet river.  We found our way into town right to the famous Porta Nigra, the last remaining city gate into Roman Trier.  Trier was founded by Emperor Augustus in 100 BC.  Before it was inhabited by the Treveri.  It is known to be the oldest city in Germany.  We found the tourist office and they booked a room just minutes away.  At a short rest we took a walking tour or the city centre.  After seeing the sights pictured above we found a little Italian restaurant and Johanna had the best Pizza she had ever tasted.