Roman Bridge (UNESCO World Heritage)

In the past, anyone approaching the Roman metropolis of Trier from the Eifel side of the river would cross this very bridge and immediately have a magnificent view of the city, with its symmetrically laid-out streets and blocks of houses. The forum was in the line of sight, and in front of you on your right you could see the gigantic Barbarathermen baths, once the second largest baths complex in the entire Roman Empire. The streets have changed over time, and only a few – but still interesting – buildings remain. Only the Roman bridge still functions as an important crossing over the Mosel. When the town was founded around 17 BC under the Emperor Augustus, the Romans first built a wooden bridge on this site. A wooden cross section of an oak pile can still be seen today in the Rheinisches Landesmuseum here. It quite clearly proves that Trier is the oldest city in Germany! The wooden construction remained in use for about 90 years before being replaced by a stone bridge. The piers of a third ancient bridge are still preserved today.

A station on the Roads of the Romans.