The Romans called Trier "Roma secunda", the second Rome. The largest Roman city north of the Alps, its grandeur and affluence were often felt to be ample compensation for its distance from Rome. In Roman times Trier had thermal baths, places of assembly and an amphitheatre; today the colossal Porta Nigra town gate, the imperial baths and the impressive basilica keep that history very much alive.
Electors and archbishops have left so many memorials and cathedral embellishments behind that visitors cannot help but encounter history at every turn. Today Trier is an extremely attractive town. Sitting out at French-style street cafés and bar terraces on lively squares such as Hauptmarkt, you can sense how near you are to the French border. The market is a little more colourful than in other towns with high-quality food and drink especially strong - perhaps because the locals enjoy eating and drinking well.
Wine is as much a part of Trier as its Roman past, and leading wineries have been based in Trier for generations. The delights of the grape are accompanied by the Antiquity Festival which brings history and culture to life at the amphitheatre during the summer. Trier without the Romans and without wine? Simply unthinkable.
