Trier has no fewer than 8 (!) UNESCO world heritage sites, mostly dating from the glorious days of the Roman Empire: the Porta Nigra, the Barbara Roman Baths, the Imperial Thermal Baths, the amphitheatre, the Basilica of Constantine, the Roman Bridge, the cathedral, the Church of Our beloved Lady and the Igel Column outside the gates of the city.
A tour of Trier is like a walk through more than 2,000 years of history. The best place to start is the Porta Nigra, the best preserved Roman city gate north of the Alps. Dating back to the second century, it is still the main gateway to Germany's oldest city.
Follow the pedestrian area from the Porta Nigra past the lively Hauptmarkt (main market) with its pretty buildings, market stalls, cafés and shops straight to Trier Cathedral. The original building from 330 AD was the largest Christian church in the ancient world, and around four times the size of the current cathedral. The Roman core is still preserved, with its original walls more than 25 metres high. 
Directly adjacent to the cathedral stands the earliest Gothic church in Germany, the Church of Our beloved Lady, built in the 13th century. Past the baroque Palais Kesselstadt, and you take another huge leap back in time as you come to the 4th century Basilica of Constantine the Great , one of the greatest architectural creations of the ancient world. The rectangular hall is 71m long and 32m wide – a space of overwhelming size and simplicity, closed off from the outside world by 2.7m thick walls. This monumental edifice was built for Emperor Constantine the Great, Roman emperor in Trier and champion of Christianity. Continue to the Electoral Palace, one of the most beautiful rococo palaces in the country.
Passing through the palace gardens, your journey through time takes you to the amazingly well-preserved Imperial Thermal Baths and, just a few minutes walk from there, to the amphitheatre where crowds of up to 20,000 spectators throng to watch the "Bread & Circuses" event, Germany's largest Roman festival. Then it's a 25 minute walk in the direction of the Moselle to the Barbara Roman Baths, from where you have a view of the oldest preserved bridge north of the Alps. The Roman Bridge with its basalt pillars was built in the 2nd century AD and still spans the Moselle today. The path along the river is a lovely place for a stroll, past the medieval cranes, and always keeping St. Mary's column, which towers high above the town, in view. The pretty restaurants on the sun terraces of the district of Zurlauben are a stylish place to end the day and enjoy a drop of fine wine while enjoying glorious views of the Moselle.
If you want to find out more about Trier's monumental buildings or the details of its proud Roman history, the Rhenish State Museum in the palace gardens is a must. No other museum in Germany provides such comprehensive information about the civilisation, economics, settlement, religion and art of the first four centuries AD.
After so many stone reminders of the past, you may fancy a little greenery… If that's the case, follow the Moselle Wine Route through the romantic river valley as it winds its way gently towards Koblenz, where the Moselle finally flows into the Rhine.
