Trier

After visiting Burg Eltz, we drove less than 2 hours to Trier, where we spent the night. Trier is Germany's oldest city. It lies just a few kilometers from the border with Luxembourg. Trier was part of the Roman Empire- it was founded by Augustus in 16 B.C. There are signs of Roman heritage all over the city.

(Above) The Porta Nigra is the north gate of what remains of Roman fortifications around the city. It survived the millennia because it was used as a church for a long period after the fall of Rome.

(Above) A view of the city from inside the Porta Nigra

(Above) St. Peter's Cathedral, the oldest Christian church in Germany. Construction on this church began in 326 A.D.

(L) Brittany, Jaxon, Barbara, and Aaron at the central market (R) Jack and Lucas waiting with Aunt Brittany for a pasta dinner. We had to bribe Lucas with gelato after he finished his dinner to keep him quiet while the rest of us ate.

(L) Jack was impressed with the big foot. (R) Not a bad family photo for a auto-timer snapshot from a rock on the ground.

(Above) The inside of the Konstantin Basilica. This is the largest intact Roman structure outside of Rome. The Emperor Constantine sat on a throne in this building. It was badly damaged in WWII

(Above) What remains of the imperial baths, which were built by Constantine. These are the most intricate Roman baths in the world; however, they apparently never worked quite properly. Jack had a wonderful time looking for "ghosts" inside the underground tunnels.