The Lovely German Town of Trier!

On one of the trips organized by the school took us to Trier, which is right over the German border. This town was first created by the Romans, which then gave way to the medieval times, and then to present day. This means that Trier has tiers, and every times someone excavates in order to build Roman artifacts are found. Trier also sports several large Roman ruins, some larger than the ones found in Rome! For example, here is the ruins of the largest Roman bathhouse.

 Apparently Italy isn't too thrilled with such a ruin belonging to Germany.

This bathhouse is very well preserved and is featured on the opposite side of the courtyard. The courtyard, surrounded by well trimmed hedges and white statues, opens up to reveal the wonderful pink mansion built by an archbishop. Behind this mansion is a Roman Basilica built with thin bricks. The scene is odd because the two buildings class, but its so cool to see so much history in such a small area!

 Mmmmmyes

Once I approached the house the wonderful details began to become clear. The house is covered in gold accents and beautiful statues. The building has now been turned into an office building, which I suppose is...ok but I really wish it had become a museum. 

Right behind the archbishop's mansion is the Roman basilica. Not only is it huge, it is also in impressively good shape. It is now a christian church/museum that still uses the Roman heating system built into the church. It is very hard to believe that this building wasn't made in the past 200 years, that is how good of shape it is in.

Because the archbishop lived in Trier, he had to have a church. What ended up happening is the archbishop took the old medieval church and updated it by sticking a newer styled church on the side. When the shroud of Christ was "found," a new Italian church was stuck onto the back of the previous two. Its very...interesting looking. 

 Here is the inside. You can "see" the shroud of Christ in the very, very back.

Once you walk a little further, you run into the shopping district of Trier. The whole street is pedestrian only, and all the buildings look like they come from a kid's book. It is wonderful. The shopping is cheaper in Germany, so I try to come back here whenever I can. Its only 6 euros. :)

 

 The third Roman ruin in Trier is the Black Gate. It was once the entrance to the Roman city and was a sandstone color, but all the pollution has turned it's patina black. The black coat actually helps preserve the sandstone, so it is never removed. Oh, and back in the old days some old guy climbed into one of the rooms and refused to come out for 5 years. People fed him through a hole in the top of the room, and he spent the whole time praying. I guess after 5 years he came out and became a saint.

 

 The Black Gate was made into a church after the saint crawled out, but when Napoleon came through he freed the Gate. He was a huge fan of the Romans and wanted to see the Gate in all of its glory.

 Oh, and only a stone throw away from the Black Gate is Karl Marx's childhood home. The only thing to indicate this is the small plaque under the window. The lower portion of the home is now a Euroshop, the European equivalent to a Dollar General.