One day in Trier in pictures: Roman history, wine, and architecture

Europe is a wonderful place to travel through and the close proximity of countries certainly makes it easy to do so. One day you can be in France and the next in Germany and in certain parts of the continent, you might be crossing a country border multiple times in one day just to get to the beach (more on that later). For one of our day trips from Luxembourg, we ventured out to Trier, Germany. It was an hour or so drive from center to center and some highways in Germany have no speed limit so it definitely makes for a special road trip experience. This, let’s call it a picture story, is about this one day in Trier and all the wonderful history, architecture, and delicious wine we got to experience.

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Location & a Dash of History

The city is located on the Moselle river. The river runs from Luxembourg to France and is best known for its wealth of wine production. (Read more about the Luxembourgish side here). In the 1st century AD, Trier was a Roman colony and a huge trading center. With time, in the 3rd century, the city became so important it was known as the “second Rome”. At this time it was one of the capitals of the Tetrarchy. Naturally, there are some notable Roman landmarks still standing in the city. The most popular and most visible one is The Porta Nigra. It is a large fortified city gate with two massive archways allowing for the crowds to pass through history with ease. [Interior images at the top]

Today, however, Trier is a fun and vibrant city boasting culture, food, and art on every corner. In the summer the town square (Hauptmarkt) turns into a lively hangout spot for locals and tourists alike. In the square are fruits and vegetable farm stands and street performers. Patios are enveloping the open space, and a local winery booth gathers cheerful crowds around it. You can get a glass of wine and walk around the square with it freely. People were relaxing by the fountain or picking out souvenirs while enjoying local wine. It’s a lovely experience.  

The Roman influences are seen often throughout the city (like in the enclosed Forum Baths) but they aren’t the only ones. Walking through the streets you will also notice Turkish, French, and other mixed European influences from across centuries. A few blocks away from Hauptmarkt is a stunning garden in front of the Kurfürstliches Palais (electoral palace, photos above). The palace is a wonderful example of French architecture inspired by the Renaissance, Baroque and Rococo styles. As such, it is naturally a very popular spot for taking pictures. 

Something to Eat, Something to Drink

Between pubs and restaurants, there is a great selection of traditional German food, heavy on the meets and carbs. The menus do include a dash of wild mushrooms and plenty of starchy vegetables (who doesn’t love a mashed potato!). We had a late lunch at Wirtshaus Zur Glocke, a little hotel on a busy side street with a cozy, dimly lit pub out front. The menu is large and a bit confusing when read in English. But I would trust that everything on that menu was worth trying at least once. As such, we ordered way too much food to balance out the healthy pints of lager and stayed there for well over an hour, slowly snaking and relaxing in the shade. 

One of my other favourite stops, located right in the city center, is the Weinbar Trier. This is a cellar-like tiny wine bar with an open storefront. They offer a massive selection of German wine, every wall is a wine wall, from every angle and every side. I was overwhelmed but joyfully so and took a few bottles home to continue the tasting experience. 

Having spent the entire day here we had to hit the road at twilight and if I was a toddler you may have had to peel me off the ground in a tantrum. But alas, I am not. So I got back in the car voluntarily hoping to return and spend at least a full weekend in this wonderful city.

If you go, some packing & shopping starters

In the gear bag: Fujifilm X-T100 with an XF50mmF2 R WR lens. To see the trip on Instagram, search #xoeurotrip21. Also, see the story highlight on my profile there is also a fun Reel.