Trier is considered the oldest city in Germany, as it was expanded as a center for the Roman Empire from before the time of Christ. There are ruins of Roman bath houses, a stadium, a city gate (Porta Niegra) and many remembrances of the Emperor Constantine.
This summer a special exhibit featured the life of Constantine, as much of his reign was in Trier. This foot was a reproduction from a larger than life statue of him found in pieces.
On the market square next to the fountain you will find Zum Domstein. This is a restaurant with great German food. However, when the basement was being dug, it was found to hold Roman kitchen items that were discovered to belong to the kitchen of Helena, the mother of the Emperor Constantine. They have guarded the relics in top condition behind glass. Every evening in the cellar, they serve Roman food on replicas of Roman dinnerware. The servers wear togas.
It is a touristy town with lots of shopping and restaurants. Wineries abound. Definately worth an afternoon's wandering.
We had a three hour tour on a steamboat down the Rhine, viewing many castles.
This castle is on an island. It was very easy to hold power, but just putting a chain across the river.
The Rheinfels Castle in St. Goar, towering over the Rhine River, was one of the largest fortresses in it's time (the 1200s). The center courtyard could hold thousands of people when the town was under seige. In 1796 Napoleon took it over and blew up much of it.
