Trier: Difference between revisions

Coordinates: 49°45′24″N 06°38′29″E / 49.75667°N 6.64139°E / 49.75667; 6.64139
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{{short description|City in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany}}
[[de:Trier]]
{{Other uses}}
[[eo:Treviro]]
{{redirect|Treves|other uses|Treves (disambiguation)}}
[[nl:Trier]]
{{Infobox German location
|type = City
|image_photo = {{Photomontage|position=center
|photo1a = Trier-Blick-vom Weishaus.JPG
|photo2a = Porta Nigra morgens (100MP).jpg
|photo2b = Trier Konstantinbasilika BW 2017-06-16 14-07-56.jpg
|photo3a = Trier - Dom & Liebfrauenkirche.jpg
|photo3b =
Trier Marx Haus.jpg
|photo4a = Hauptmarkt Trier.jpg|
|size = 280
|spacing = 1
|color = white
|border = 0}}
|image_caption = '''Clockwise from top''': Trier skyline; [[Aula Palatina]]; [[Karl Marx House]]; Trier market place; [[Trier Cathedral]] and [[Liebfrauenkirche, Trier]]; and [[Porta Nigra]]
|image_flag = Flagge Trier.svg
|image_coa = DEU Trier COA.svg
|coordinates = {{coord|49|45|24|N|06|38|29|E|display=inline,title}}
|demonym = Trevian
|state = Rhineland-Palatinate
|district = Kreisfreie Stadt
|year = 16 BC
|elevation = 137
|area = 117.06
|postal_code = 54290–54296 (except 54291)
|area_code = 0651
|licence = TR
|Gemeindeschlüssel = 07 2 11 000
|website = [https://www.trier.de/ www.trier.de]
|mayor = Wolfram Leibe<ref>[https://www.swr.de/swraktuell/rheinland-pfalz/trier/oberbuergermeisterwahl-in-trier-am-sonntag-100.html Wolfram Leibe (SPD) bleibt Oberbürgermeister in Trier], SWR Aktuell, 25 September 2022.</ref>
|leader_term = 2023&ndash;31
|party = SPD
|Bürgermeistertitel = Oberbürgermeister
}}
'''Trier''' ({{IPAc-en|t|r|ɪər}} {{respell|TREER}},<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20190402052247/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/us/trier "Trier"] (US) and {{Cite dictionary |url=http://www.lexico.com/definition/Trier |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200322182044/https://www.lexico.com/definition/trier |url-status=dead |archive-date=2020-03-22 |title=Trier |dictionary=[[Lexico]] UK English Dictionary |publisher=[[Oxford University Press]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite Merriam-Webster|Trier|access-date=April 2, 2019}}</ref> {{IPA-de|tʁiːɐ̯|lang|Trier.ogg}}; {{lang-lb|Tréier}} {{IPA-lb|ˈtʀəɪɐ||Lb-Tréier.ogg}}), formerly and traditionally known in English as '''Trèves''' ({{IPAc-en|t|r|ɛ|v}} {{respell|TREV}}, {{IPA-fr|tʁɛv|lang}}<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20190402052249/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/us/treves "Trèves"] (US) and {{Cite dictionary |url=http://www.lexico.com/definition/Tr%C3%A8ves |title=Trèves |dictionary=[[Lexico|Oxford Dictionaries]] UK English Dictionary |publisher=[[Oxford University Press]]}}{{dead link|date=September 2022|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref><ref>{{Cite American Heritage Dictionary|Trèves|access-date=April 2, 2019}}</ref>) and '''Triers''' (see also [[Names of Trier in different languages|names in other languages]]), is a city on the banks of the [[Moselle (river)|Moselle]] in [[Germany]]. It lies in a valley between low vine-covered hills of red [[sandstone]] in the west of the state of [[Rhineland-Palatinate]], near the border with [[Luxembourg]] and within the important [[Mosel (wine region)|Moselle wine region]].


Founded by the [[Ancient Romans|Romans]] in the late 1st century&nbsp;BC as ''Augusta&nbsp;Treverorum'' ("The City of [[Augustus]] among the [[Treveri]]"), Trier is considered Germany's oldest city.<ref name="Trier website">{{cite web |url=http://redaktion.trier.de/praefectus/trier?tourist_en |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020808151331/http://redaktion.trier.de/praefectus/trier?tourist_en |archive-date=2002-08-08 |url-status=dead |title=Stadt Trier – City of Trier – La Ville de Trèves &#124; Website of the Municipality of Trier |author=Rathaus der Stadt Trier |access-date=2015-08-26 }}</ref>{{refn|An honor that is contested by [[Cologne]], [[Kempten]], and [[Worms, Germany|Worms]].}} It is also the oldest [[cathedral|seat]] of a [[bishop]] north of the [[Alps]]. Trier was one of the four capitals of the Roman Empire during the [[Tetrarchy]] period in the late 3rd and early 4th centuries.<ref name = "unesco"/> In the [[Middle Ages]], the [[archbishop-elector of Trier]] was an important [[prince of the Church]] who controlled land from the French border to the [[Rhine]]. The archbishop-elector of Trier also had great significance as one of the seven [[prince-elector|electors]] of the [[Holy Roman Empire]]. Because of its significance during the Roman and Holy Roman empires, several monuments and cathedrals within Trier are listed as a [[UNESCO]] [[World Heritage Site]].<ref name = "unesco">{{cite web |url = https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/367 |title = Roman Monuments, Cathedral of St Peter and Church of Our Lady in Trier |website = UNESCO World Heritage Centre |publisher = United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization |access-date = 22 May 2022}}</ref>
'''Trier''' is the oldest city in [[Germany]]. It is situated on the western bank of the [[Moselle]].


With an approximate population of 110,000, Trier is the fourth-largest city in its state, after [[Mainz]], [[Ludwigshafen]], and [[Koblenz]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.statistik.rlp.de/fileadmin/dokumente/berichte/A1033_201022_hj_G.pdf|title=Bevölkerung der Gemeinden am 31.12.2010|work=[[Statistisches Landesamt Rheinland-Pfalz]]|year=2011|language=de|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120131082852/http://www.statistik.rlp.de/fileadmin/dokumente/berichte/A1033_201022_hj_G.pdf|archive-date=2012-01-31}}</ref> The nearest major cities are [[Luxembourg City]] ({{convert|50|km|0|abbr=on|disp=or}} to the southwest), [[Saarbrücken]] ({{convert|80|km|0|abbr=off|disp=or}} southeast), and [[Koblenz]] ({{convert|100|km|0|abbr=on|disp=or}} northeast).
The [[Roman Republic|Romans]] under [[Julius Caesar]] subdued the [[Treveran]]s in [[58 BC|58]] to [[50 BC]]. When the Roman provinces in Germany were reorganised in [[16 BC]], [[Augustus]] decided that Trier, then called ''Augusta Treverorum'' should become the regional capital. For a few years (383-388) it was the capital of [[Magnus Maximus]], who ruled most of the western Empire


The [[University of Trier]], the administration of the [[Trier-Saarburg]] district and the seat of the ADD (''Aufsichts- und Dienstleistungsdirektion''), which until 1999 was the borough authority of Trier, and the [[Academy of European Law]] (ERA) are all based in Trier. It is one of the five "[[Central place theory|central places]]" of the state of Rhineland-Palatinate. Along with Luxembourg, [[Metz]] and Saarbrücken, fellow constituent members of the [[:de:QuattroPole|QuattroPole]] union of cities, it is central to the greater region encompassing [[Saar-Lor-Lux]] ([[Saarland]], [[Lorraine]] and [[Luxembourg]]), Rhineland-Palatinate, and [[Wallonia]].
The city is well known for the [[Porta Nigra]], the best preserved Roman city gate north of the [[Alps]].


== History ==
It is also the birthplace of the influential philosopher [[Karl Marx]].
{{Main|History of Trier}}
The first traces of human settlement in the area of the city show evidence of [[Linear Pottery culture|linear pottery]] settlements dating from the early [[Neolithic]] period. Since the last [[Christianization|pre-Christian]] centuries, members of the [[Celt]]ic tribe of the [[Treveri]] settled in the area of today's Trier.<ref>See: Heinen, pp. 1–12.</ref> The city of Trier derives its name from the later Latin locative ''in Trēverīs'' for earlier ''Augusta Treverorum''. According to the [[Archbishops of Trier]], in the [[Gesta Treverorum]], the founder of the city of the Trevians is [[Trebeta]]. German historian [[Johannes Aventinus]] also credited [[Trebeta]] with building settlements at [[Metz]], [[Mainz]], [[Basel]], [[Strasbourg]], [[Speyer]] and [[Worms, Germany|Worms]].


[[File:Augusta Treverorum.jpg|thumb|left|[[Augusta Treverorum]] in the 4th century]]
== External Links ==
[[File:Porta Nigra morgens (100MP).jpg|thumb|left|[[Porta Nigra]]]]
* [http://www.trier.de Official Website]
The historical record describes the [[Roman Empire]] subduing the [[Treveri]] in the {{nowrap|1st century BC}} and establishing Augusta Treverorum about 16&nbsp;BC.<ref>{{Citation|url=https://www.uni-trier.de/index.php?id=12675&L=2|title=The City of Trier|publisher=Trier University|access-date=11 May 2019}}</ref> The name distinguished it from the empire's [[Augusta (disambiguation)#Places|many other cities]] honoring the first [[Roman emperor]], [[Augustus]]. The city later became the capital of the [[Roman province|province]] of [[Gallia Belgica|Belgic Gaul]]; after the [[Diocletian Reforms]], it became the capital of the [[praetorian prefecture|prefecture]] of [[Praetorian Prefecture of Gaul|the Gauls]], overseeing much of the [[Western Roman Empire]]. In the 4th century, Trier was one of the largest cities in the Roman Empire with a population around 75,000 and perhaps as much as 100,000.<ref name="landesmuseum-trier">{{cite web|url=http://www.landesmuseum-trier.de/lib/02_Programm/antikencard-trier-englisch-2012.pdf|date=8 March 2012|title=TRIER THE CENTER OF ANTIQUITY IN GERMANY|access-date=2015-08-26|archive-date=2018-12-25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181225061853/http://www.landesmuseum-trier.de/de/home.html|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="google">{{cite book|title=Europe by Eurail 2010: Touring Europe by Train|author=LaVerne, F.K.|date=1991|publisher=Globe Pequot Press|isbn=9780762761630|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Ux7EOl11e34C&pg=PA337 |page=337|access-date=2015-08-26}}</ref><ref name="google books">{{cite book|title=BEYOND OUR WORLD: The Exciting Story of a Treasure Hunter, Historian, and Adventurer |author=Baker, Myron|date=2013|publisher=Dorrance Publishing Co |isbn=9781480901872|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KbuYAQAAQBAJ&pg=PA182 |page=182|access-date=2021-01-04}}</ref><ref name="academia">{{cite web|url=https://www.academia.edu/1166147 |title=The Fall and Decline of the Roman Urban Mind &#124; Svante Fischer and Helena Victor - Academia.edu |publisher=academia.edu|access-date=2015-08-26|last1=Victor |first1=Helena |last2=Fischer |first2=Svante }}</ref> The [[Porta Nigra]] ("Black Gate") dates from this era. A residence of the [[Western Roman emperor]], Roman Trier was the birthplace of [[Saint Ambrose]]. Sometime between 395 and 418, probably in 407 the Roman administration moved the staff of the Praetorian Prefecture from Trier to [[Arles]]. The city continued to be inhabited but was not as prosperous as before. However, it remained the seat of a governor and had state factories for the production of [[ballistae]] and [[Roman armor|armor]] and [[Roman military uniform|woolen uniforms]] for [[Roman soldiers|the troops]], clothing for the civil service, and high-quality garments for the Court. Northern Gaul was held by the Romans along a line [[Limes (Roman Empire)|(''līmes'')]] from north of [[Cologne]] to the coast at [[Boulogne]] through what is today southern Belgium until 460. South of this line, Roman control was firm, as evidenced by the continuing operation of the imperial arms factory at [[Amiens]].
* ''[http://www.fes.de/marx/index_en.htm Karl-Marx-Haus]'' (birth house and museum)

[[File:Trier Stadtmodell.JPG|thumb|Scale model of Trier around 1800]]
[[File:Trier Dom BW 24.JPG|thumb|[[Cathedral of Trier]]]]
[[File:Trier Kurfuerstliches Palais BW 1.JPG|thumb|[[Electoral Palace, Trier|Electoral Palace]]]]
The [[Franks]] seized Trier from Roman administration in 459. In 870, it became part of [[Eastern Francia]], which developed into the [[Holy Roman Empire]]. Relics of [[Saint Matthias]] brought to the city initiated widespread pilgrimages. The bishops of the city grew increasingly powerful and the [[Archbishopric of Trier]] was recognized as an [[Elector of Trier|electorate]] of the empire, one of the most powerful states of Germany. The [[University of Trier]] was founded in the city in 1473. In the 17th century, the Archbishops and Prince-Electors of Trier relocated their residence to [[Philippsburg]] Castle in [[Festung Ehrenbreitstein|Ehrenbreitstein]], near [[Koblenz]]. A session of the [[Reichstag (Holy Roman Empire)|Reichstag]] was held in Trier in 1512, during which the demarcation of the [[Imperial Circle]]s was definitively established.

In the years from 1581 to 1593, the [[Trier witch trials]] were held. It was one of the four largest witch trials in Germany alongside the [[Fulda witch trials]], the [[Würzburg witch trial]], and the [[Bamberg witch trials]], perhaps even the largest one in European history. The persecutions started in the diocese of Trier in 1581 and reached the city itself in 1587, where it was to lead to the death of about 368 people, and was as such perhaps the biggest mass execution in Europe in peacetime. This counts only those executed within the city itself. The exact number of people executed in all the witch hunts within the diocese has never been established; a total of 1,000 has been suggested but not confirmed.

In the 17th and 18th centuries, the [[French-Habsburg rivalry]] brought war to Trier. [[Habsburg Spain|Spain]] and [[Kingdom of France|France]] fought over the city during the [[Thirty Years' War]]. The bishop was imprisoned by Spain and the Holy Roman Emperor for his support for France between 1635 and 1645. In later wars between the Empire and France, French troops occupied the city during the [[Nine Years' War]], the [[War of the Spanish Succession]], and the [[War of the Polish Succession]]. After conquering Trier again in 1794 during the [[French Revolutionary Wars]], France annexed the city and the electoral archbishopric was dissolved. After the [[Napoleonic Wars]] ended in 1815, Trier passed to the [[Kingdom of Prussia]]. [[Karl Marx]], the German philosopher and one of the founders of [[Marxism]], was born in the city in 1818.

As part of the [[Prussian Rhineland]], Trier developed economically during the 19th century. The city rose in revolt during the [[revolutions of 1848 in the German states]], although the rebels were forced to concede. It became part of the [[German Empire]] in 1871.

The synagogue on Zuckerbergstrasse was looted during the November 1938 [[Kristallnacht]] and later completely destroyed in a bomb attack in 1944. Multiple [[Stolperstein]] have been installed in Trier to commemorate those murdered and exiled during the [[Shoah]].<ref>[[:de:Liste der Stolpersteine in Trier|List of Stolperstein in Trier]] (in German).</ref>

In June 1940 during [[World War II]] over 60,000 British prisoners of war, captured at [[Operation Dynamo|Dunkirk]] and Northern France, were marched to Trier, which became a staging post for British soldiers headed for German [[prisoner-of-war camp]]s. Trier was heavily bombed and bombarded in 1944. The city became part of the new state of [[Rhineland-Palatinate]] after the war. The [[University of Trier|university]], dissolved in 1797, was restarted in the 1970s, while the [[Cathedral of Trier]] was reopened in 1974 after undergoing substantial and long-lasting renovations. Trier officially celebrated its 2,000th anniversary in 1984. On [[2020 Trier attack|December 1, 2020]], 5 people were killed by an allegedly drunk driver during a [[vehicle-ramming attack]].<ref>[https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-55148518 Trier: Five die as car ploughs through Germany pedestrian zone]. bbc.com. Retrieved 2021-01-04.</ref>
The Ehrang/Quint district of Trier was heavily damaged and flooded during the July 16, [[2021 European floods|2021 floods]] of Germany, Belgium, The Netherlands and Luxembourg.

{{Historical populations|100|20000|300|80000|400|50000|1250|12,000|1363|10,000|1542|8,500|1613|6,000|1702|4,300|1801|8,829|1871|21,442|1900|43,506|1910|49,112|1919|53,248|1919|57,341|1933|76,692|1939|88,150|1950|75,526|1961|87,141|1970|103,724|1987|94,118|2011|105,671|2018|110,636|align=right|footnote=source:<ref>[[:de:Einwohnerentwicklung von Trier|Einwohnerentwicklung von Trier]] [Population development]. ''wikipedia.de'' (in German). Retrieved January 4, 2021.</ref>{{Circular reference|date=August 2019}}}}{{wide image|Trier Panorama Mariensaeule kl.jpg|600px|View of the city from St. Mary's Column (''Mariensäule'')}}
{{wide image|Trier Vom Kreuzweg Nachts.jpg|600px|Trier from the east (''Petrisberg'')}}
Trier sits in a hollow midway along the [[Moselle (river)|Moselle]] valley, with the most significant portion of the city on the east bank of the river. Wooded and [[vineyard]]-covered slopes stretch up to the [[Hunsrück]] plateau in the south and the [[Eifel]] in the north. The border with the [[Luxembourg|Grand Duchy of Luxembourg]] is some {{convert|15|km|0|abbr=on}} away.

{| class="infobox" style="float:right;"
|colspan="2"|'''Largest groups of foreign residents'''
|-\
!Country of birth || Population (2013)
|-
|{{POL}} || 688
|-
|{{FRA}} || 675
|-
|{{LUX}} || 573
|-
|{{UKR}} || 476
|-
|{{RUS}} || 444
|-
|}

== Neighbouring municipalities ==
''Listed in clockwise order, beginning with the northernmost; all municipalities belong to the [[Trier-Saarburg]] district''

[[Schweich]], [[Kenn, Germany|Kenn]] and [[Longuich]] (all part of the [[Schweich an der Römischen Weinstraße|Verbandsgemeinde Schweich an der Römischen Weinstraße]]), [[Mertesdorf]], [[Kasel]], [[Waldrach]], [[Morscheid]], [[Korlingen]] and [[Gusterath]] (all in the [[Ruwer (municipality)|Verbandsgemeinde Ruwer]]), [[Hockweiler]], [[Franzenheim]] (both part of the [[Trier-Land|Verbandsgemeinde Trier-Land]]), [[Konz]] and [[Wasserliesch]] (both part of the [[Verbandsgemeinde Konz]]), [[Igel]], [[Trierweiler]], [[Aach, Rhineland-Palatinate|Aach]], [[Newel, Germany|Newel]], [[Kordel]], [[Zemmer]] (all in the [[Trier-Land|Verbandsgemeinde Trier-Land]]).

== Organization of city districts ==
[[File:Ortsbezirke-trier.png|thumb|Districts of Trier]]
The Trier urban area is divided into '''19 city districts'''. For each district there is an ''[[:de:Ortsbeirat|Ortsbeirat]]'' (local council) of between 9 and 15 members, as well as an ''[[:de:Ortsvorsteher|Ortsvorsteher]]'' (local representative). The local councils are charged with hearing the important issues that affect the district, although the final decision on any issue rests with the city council. The local councils nevertheless have the freedom to undertake limited measures within the bounds of their districts and their budgets.

The districts of Trier with area and inhabitants (December 31, 2009):

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|- class="hintergrundfarbe5"
! width="60" | Official district number
! align="left" | District <small>with associated sub-districts</small>
! align="left" | Area<br/>in km<sup>2</sup>
! align="left" | Inhabitants
|-
| align ="center" | 11
| Mitte/Gartenfeld
|style="text-align:right"| 2.978
|style="text-align:right"| 11,954
|-
| align ="center" | 12
| Nord (Nells Ländchen, Maximin)
|style="text-align:right"| 3.769
|style="text-align:right"| 13,405
|-
| align ="center" | 13
| Süd (St. Barbara, St. Matthias or St. Mattheis)
|style="text-align:right"| 1.722
|style="text-align:right"| 9,123
|-
| align ="center" | 21
| Ehrang/Quint
|style="text-align:right"| 26.134
|style="text-align:right"| 9,195
|-
| align ="center" | 22
| Pfalzel
|style="text-align:right"| 2.350
|style="text-align:right"| 3,514
|-
| align ="center" | 23
| Biewer
|style="text-align:right"| 5.186
|style="text-align:right"| 1,949
|-
| align ="center" | 24
| [[Ruwer/Eitelsbach]]
|style="text-align:right"| 9.167
|style="text-align:right"| 3,091
|-
| align ="center" | 31
| West/Pallien
|style="text-align:right"| 8.488
|style="text-align:right"| 7,005
|-
| align ="center" | 32
| Euren (Herresthal)
|style="text-align:right"| 13.189
|style="text-align:right"| 4,207
|-
| align ="center" | 33
| Zewen (Oberkirch)
|style="text-align:right"| 7.496
|style="text-align:right"| 3,634
|-
| align ="center" | 41
| Olewig
|style="text-align:right"| 3.100
|style="text-align:right"| 3,135
|-
| align ="center" | 42
| Kürenz (Alt-Kürenz, Neu-Kürenz)
|style="text-align:right"| 5.825
|style="text-align:right"| 8,708
|-
| align ="center" | 43
| [[Tarforst]]
|style="text-align:right"| 4.184
|style="text-align:right"| 6,605
|-
| align ="center" | 44
| Filsch
|style="text-align:right"| 1.601
|style="text-align:right"| 761
|-
| align ="center" | 45
| Irsch
|style="text-align:right"| 4.082
|style="text-align:right"| 2,351
|-
| align ="center" | 46
| Kernscheid
|style="text-align:right"| 3.768
|style="text-align:right"| 958
|-
| align ="center" | 51
| Feyen/Weismark
|style="text-align:right"| 5.095
|style="text-align:right"| 5,689
|-
| align ="center" | 52
| Heiligkreuz (Alt-Heiligkreuz, Neu-Heiligkreuz, St. Maternus)
|style="text-align:right"| 2.036
|style="text-align:right"| 6,672
|-
| align ="center" | 53
| Mariahof (St. Michael)
|style="text-align:right"| 7.040
|style="text-align:right"| 3,120
|- class="sortbottom"
| align ="center" |
| Totals
|style="text-align:right"| 117.210
|style="text-align:right"| 105,076
|}

==Climate ==
Trier has an oceanic climate ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]]: ''Cfb''), but with greater extremes than the marine versions of [[northern Germany]]. Summers are warm except in unusual heat waves and winters are recurrently cold, but not harsh. Precipitation is high despite not being on the coast.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather-summary.php3?s=106090&cityname=Trier,+Rheinland-Pfalz,+Germany&units=|title=Trier, Germany Köppen Climate Classification (Weatherbase)|website=Weatherbase|access-date=2019-02-02}}</ref> As a result of the [[2003 European heat wave|European heat wave in 2003]], the highest temperature recorded was 39&nbsp;°C on 8 August of that year. On 25 July 2019, a record-breaking temperature of 40.6&nbsp;°C was recorded.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.welt.de/regionales/rheinland-pfalz-saarland/article197485403/Neuer-Hitzerekord-in-Rheinland-Pfalz-40-6-Grad-in-Trier.html |title=Neuer Hitzerekord in Rheinland-Pfalz: 40,6 Grad in Trier |language=de |website=welt.de |date=2019-07-25 |access-date=2023-10-19}}</ref> The lowest recorded temperature was −19.3&nbsp;°C on February 2, 1956.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wetterdienst.de:443/Klima/Wetterrekorde/Deutschland/Temperatur/Min/|title=Wetterrekorde Deutschland|website=Wetterdienst.de|language=de|access-date=2019-02-02}}</ref>

{{Weather box
| location = Trier (1991–2020 normals) (1948-present extremes)
| metric first = Y
| single line = Y
|collapsed = Y
| Jan record high C =14.7
| Feb record high C =20.3
| Mar record high C =24.5
| Apr record high C =28.5
| May record high C =30.7
| Jun record high C =36.2
| Jul record high C =40.6
| Aug record high C =39.0
| Sep record high C =34.8
| Oct record high C =26.8
| Nov record high C =20.6
| Dec record high C =17.0
| Jan record low C =-18.3
| Feb record low C =-19.3
| Mar record low C =-12.9
| Apr record low C =-6.2
| May record low C =-1.6
| Jun record low C =1.7
| Jul record low C =4.4
| Aug record low C =4.2
| Sep record low C =1.2
| Oct record low C =-3.4
| Nov record low C =-10.2
| Dec record low C =-14.4
|Jan high C = 4.5
|Feb high C = 6.1
|Mar high C = 10.8
|Apr high C = 15.7
|May high C = 19.7
|Jun high C = 23.0
|Jul high C = 25.2
|Aug high C = 24.9
|Sep high C = 20.4
|Oct high C = 14.6
|Nov high C = 8.6
|Dec high C = 5.1
| year high C = 14.9
|Jan mean C = 2.0
|Feb mean C = 2.8
|Mar mean C = 6.2
|Apr mean C = 10.0
|May mean C = 13.9
|Jun mean C = 17.1
|Jul mean C = 19.1
|Aug mean C = 18.6
|Sep mean C = 14.5
|Oct mean C = 10.3
|Nov mean C = 5.8
|Dec mean C = 2.8
|year mean C = 10.2
|Jan low C = -0.4
|Feb low C = -0.2
|Mar low C = 2.2
|Apr low C = 4.9
|May low C = 8.6
|Jun low C = 11.7
|Jul low C = 13.7
|Aug low C = 13.3
|Sep low C = 10.0
|Oct low C = 6.8
|Nov low C = 3.3
|Dec low C = 0.6
| year low C = 6.2
| precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation mm = 63.5
|Feb precipitation mm = 53.0
|Mar precipitation mm = 51.3
|Apr precipitation mm = 44.2
|May precipitation mm = 66.7
|Jun precipitation mm = 66.0
|Jul precipitation mm = 72.4
|Aug precipitation mm = 62.0
|Sep precipitation mm = 60.4
|Oct precipitation mm = 65.4
|Nov precipitation mm = 62.2
|Dec precipitation mm = 77.6
| year precipitation mm = 746.8
| unit precipitation days = 1.0 mm
|Jan precipitation days = 18.2
|Feb precipitation days = 16.4
|Mar precipitation days = 15.3
|Apr precipitation days = 13.0
|May precipitation days = 14.7
|Jun precipitation days = 13.5
|Jul precipitation days = 13.9
|Aug precipitation days = 13.6
|Sep precipitation days = 12.6
|Oct precipitation days = 15.3
|Nov precipitation days = 18.1
|Dec precipitation days = 18.7
|year precipitation days = 183.7
|Jan sun = 48.1
|Feb sun = 70.3
|Mar sun = 130.9
|Apr sun = 187.1
|May sun = 213.8
|Jun sun = 224.7
|Jul sun = 235.1
|Aug sun = 215.3
|Sep sun = 159.8
|Oct sun = 96.3
|Nov sun = 44.8
|Dec sun = 38.7
|year sun = 1663.4
|Jan humidity = 87.2
|Feb humidity = 82.5
|Mar humidity = 75.1
|Apr humidity = 69.0
|May humidity = 71.0
|Jun humidity = 70.8
|Jul humidity = 69.9
|Aug humidity = 71.9
|Sep humidity = 77.9
|Oct humidity = 84.5
|Nov humidity = 88.5
|Dec humidity = 89.2
|unit snow days = 1.0 cm
|Jan snow days = 5.9
|Feb snow days = 4.9
|Mar snow days = 1.6
|Apr snow days = 0.1
|May snow days = 0
|Jun snow days = 0
|Jul snow days = 0
|Aug snow days = 0
|Sep snow days = 0
|Oct snow days = 0
|Nov snow days = 1.0
|Dec snow days = 4.3
|year snow days =
| source 1 = [[World Meteorological Organization]]<ref name=WMO>{{cite web
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20231012174235/https://www.nodc.noaa.gov/archive/arc0216/0253808/1.1/data/0-data/Region-6-WMO-Normals-9120/Germany/CSV/Trier-Petrisberg_10609.csv
| archive-date = 12 October 2023
| url = https://www.nodc.noaa.gov/archive/arc0216/0253808/1.1/data/0-data/Region-6-WMO-Normals-9120/Germany/CSV/Trier-Petrisberg_10609.csv
| title = World Meteorological Organization Climate Normals for 1991–2020
| work = World Meteorological Organization Climatological Standard Normals (1991–2020)
| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
| access-date = 13 October 2023}}</ref><ref name = noaa>{{cite web
| url = ftp://ftp.atdd.noaa.gov/pub/GCOS/WMO-Normals/TABLES/REG_VI/DL/10609.TXT
| title = Trier (10609) – WMO Weather Station
| access-date = February 2, 2019
| publisher = [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration|NOAA]]}}</ref>
| source 2 = Wetterdienst.de - Wetter- und Klimaberatung
}}

== Main sights ==
{{Infobox UNESCO World Heritage Site
|Name = [[Roman Monuments, Cathedral of St. Peter and Church of Our Lady in Trier UNESCO World Heritage Site|Roman Monuments, Cathedral of St. Peter and Church of Our Lady in Trier]]
|Image = Trier Kaiserthermen BW 1.JPG
|imagecaption=Ruins of the Imperial Baths
|Criteria = Cultural: i, iii, iv, vi
|ID = 367
|Year = 1986
|Includes = [[Trier Amphitheater|Amphitheater]], [[Roman Bridge (Trier)|Roman bridge]], [[Barbara Baths]], [[Igel Column]], [[Porta Nigra]], [[Trier Imperial Baths|Imperial Baths]], [[Aula Palatina]], [[Cathedral of Trier|Cathedral]] and [[Liebfrauenkirche, Trier|Liebfrauenkirche]]
}}
[[File:Trier Konstantinbasilika BW 2017-06-16 14-07-56.jpg|thumb|upright|The [[Aula Palatina]], or Constantine Basilica, built 4th century AD during the reign of Roman emperor [[Constantine I]]]]
Trier is known for its well-preserved Roman and medieval buildings, which include:
* the ''[[Porta Nigra]]'', the best-preserved Roman [[city gate]] north of the [[Alps]];
* the huge [[Aula Palatina]], a [[basilica]] in the original Roman sense, was the {{convert|67|m|2|abbr=on}} long throne hall of [[Roman emperor]] [[Constantine I of the Roman Empire|Constantine]]; it is today used as a [[Protestantism|Protestant]] [[Church (building)|church]]; adjacent is the [[Electoral Palace, Trier]];
* the Roman [[Trier Amphitheater]];
* the 2nd century AD [[Römerbrücke (Trier)|Roman bridge]] (''Römerbrücke'') across the Moselle, the oldest bridge north of the Alps still crossed by traffic;
* ruins of three [[Roman baths]], among them the largest Roman baths north of the Alps; including the [[Barbara Baths]], the [[Trier Imperial Baths]], and the [[Forum Baths, Trier]];
* [[Trier Cathedral]] ({{lang-de|Trierer Dom}} or ''Dom St. Peter''), a Catholic church that dates back to Roman times; its Romanesque west façade with an extra apse and four towers is imposing and has been copied repeatedly; the Cathedral is home to the [[Holy Tunic]], a garment said to be the robe [[Jesus]] was wearing when he died, as well as many other relics and reliquaries in the [[Trier Cathedral Treasury|Cathedral Treasury]];
* the ''[[Liebfrauenkirche, Trier|Liebfrauenkirche]]'' (German for ''Church of [[Blessed Virgin Mary|Our Lady]]''), which is one of the most important early [[Gothic architecture|Gothic]] churches in Germany, in some ways comparable to the architectural tradition of the [[Gothic architecture#France|French Gothic]] cathedrals;
* [[St. Matthias' Abbey, Trier|St. Matthias' Abbey]] (''Abtei St. Matthias''), a still-in-use monastery in whose medieval church the only [[Twelve Apostles|apostle]] north of the Alps is held to be buried;
* [[St. Gangolf's church]] is the city's 'own' church near the main market square (as opposed to the Cathedral, the bishop's church); largely Gothic;
* [[St. Paulinus' Church, Trier|Saint Paulinus' Church]], one of the most important [[Baroque architecture|Baroque]] churches in Rhineland-Palatinate and designed in part by the architect [[Balthasar Neumann]];
* two old [[treadwheel]] [[crane (machine)|crane]]s, one being the [[Gothic architecture|Gothic]] "Old Crane" (''Alte Krahnen'') or "Trier Moselle Crane" (''Trierer Moselkrahn'') from 1413, and the other the 1774 [[Baroque architecture|Baroque]] crane called the "(Old) Customs Crane" (''(Alter) Zollkran'') or "Younger Moselle Crane" (''Jüngerer Moselkran'') (see [[List of historical harbour cranes]]).

== Museums ==
[[File:Rheinische Landesmusée Tréier.jpg|thumb|Rheinisches Landesmuseum Trier]]
* ''[[Rheinisches Landesmuseum Trier|Rheinisches Landesmuseum]]'' (an important archaeological museum for the Roman period; also some early Christian and Romanesque sculpture);
* ''Domschatzkammer'' ([[Treasury of Trier Cathedral]]; with the Egbert Shrine, the reliquary of the Holy Nail, the cup of Saint Helena and other reliquaries, liturgical objects, ivories, manuscripts, etc., many from the Middle Ages);
* ''Museum am Dom'', formerly ''Bischöfliches Dom- und Diözesanmuseum'' (Museum of the [[Diocese of Trier]]; religious art, also some Roman artefacts);
* ''Stadtmuseum Simeonstift'' (history of Trier, displaying among other exhibits a scale model of the medieval city);
* [[Karl Marx House]]; a museum exhibiting Marx's personal history, volumes of poetry, original letters, and photographs with personal dedications. There is also a collection of rare first editions and international editions of his works, as well as exhibits on the development of socialism in the 19th century;
* Toy Museum of Trier;
* Ethnological and open-air museum [[Roscheider Hof Open Air Museum|Roscheider Hof]], a museum in the neighbouring town of [[Konz]], right at the city limits of Trier, which shows the history of rural culture in the northwest Rhineland Palatinate and in the area where Germany, Luxembourg and Lorraine meet;
* [[Fell Exhibition Slate Mine]]; site in the municipality of Fell, {{convert|20|km|0|abbr=on}} from Trier, containing an underground mine, a mine museum, and a slate mining trail.

== Education ==
[[File:Uni Trier Campus 1.jpg|thumb|left | Uni Trier Campus 1]]
[[File:HochschuleTrier_Central_Campus.png|thumb|University of applied sciences, central campus]]
Trier is home to the [[University of Trier]], founded in 1473, closed in 1796 and restarted in 1970. The city also has the [[Trier University of Applied Sciences]]. The [[Academy of European Law]] (ERA) was established in 1992 and provides training in European law to legal practitioners.
In 2010 there were about 40 ''Kindergärten'',<ref name="trier">{{cite web|url=http://cms.trier.de/stadt-trier/Integrale?SID=8BA22E52E8ADCF0D85865185478FF007&MODULE=Frontend&ACTION=ViewPageView&Filter.EvaluationMode=standard&PageView.UniqueName=einrichtung-liste&Document.Idx.Kategorie=kinder_jugend%2Fkindergaerten&Filter.OrderCriteria.Idx.Name=asc |title=Stadt Trier – Startseite &#124; Kindergärten in Trier |publisher=trier.de, City of Trier|access-date=2015-08-26}}</ref> 25 primary schools and 23 secondary schools in Trier, such as the ''Humboldt Gymnasium Trier'', ''Max Planck Gymnasium'', ''Auguste Viktoria Gymnasium'', ''Angela Merici Gymnasium'', ''Friedrich Wilhelm Gymnasium'' and the ''Nelson-Mandela Realschule Plus'', ''Kurfürst-Balduin Realschule Plus'', ''Realschule Plus Ehrang''.<ref name="trier2">{{cite web|url=http://cms.trier.de/stadt-trier/Integrale?SID=8BA22E52E8ADCF0D85865185478FF007&MODULE=Frontend&ACTION=ViewPageView&PageView.PK=6&Filter.EvaluationMode=standard&Document.CI.Stichwort=Schulen&Filter.OrderCriteria.Idx.Geschaeftsbereich=asc&Filter.OrderCriteria.Idx.Titel=asc&Filter.WindowSize=50 |title=Stadt Trier – Startseite – Schulen in Trier |publisher=trier.de, City of Trier|access-date=2015-08-26}}</ref>

== Annual events ==
* Until 2014, Trier was home to Germany's largest Roman festival, [[Brot und Spiele]] ([[German language|German]] for ''Bread and Games'' – a translation of the famous Latin phrase ''[[Bread and circuses|panem et circenses]]'' from the [[satires of Juvenal]]).
* Trier has been the base for the [[Rallye Deutschland|German round]] of the [[World Rally Championship]] since 2002, with the rally's presentation held next to the Porta Nigra.
* Trier holds a Christmas street festival every year called the Trier Christmas Market on the ''Hauptmarkt'' (Main Market Square) and the ''Domfreihof'' in front of the [[Cathedral of Trier]].
* The Olewiger Weinfest is an annual wine festival held in the village of Olewig, just outside of Trier, Germany. The festival takes place over three days, typically in August, and features a wide variety of activities, including wine tastings, live music and food stalls.

== Culture ==
Trier has a municipal theatre, [[Theater Trier]], for musical theatre, plays and dance.

==Transport==
[[Trier Hauptbahnhof|Trier station]] has direct [[Deutsche Bahn|railway]] connections to many cities in the region. The nearest cities by [[train]] are Cologne, Saarbrücken and Luxembourg. Via the motorways [[Bundesautobahn 1|A 1]], [[Bundesautobahn 48|A 48]] and [[Bundesautobahn 64|A 64]] Trier is linked with Koblenz, Saarbrücken and Luxembourg. The nearest commercial (international) airports are in [[Findel Airport|Luxembourg]] (0:40 h by car), [[Frankfurt-Hahn]] (1:00 h), [[Saarbrücken Airport|Saarbrücken]] (1:00 h), [[Frankfurt am Main Airport|Frankfurt]] (2:00 h) and [[Cologne/Bonn Airport|Cologne/Bonn]] (2:00 h). The [[Moselle (river)|Moselle]] is an important waterway and is also used for river cruises. A new passenger railway service on the western side of the Mosel is scheduled to open in December 2018.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.railjournal.com/index.php/europe/plans-approved-for-trier-suburban-line.html|title=Plans approved for Trier suburban line Written by|last=Fender|first=Keith|date=12 February 2014|work=International Railway Journal|access-date=2014-02-25}}</ref>

==Sports==
[[File:Moselstadium Trier 02.jpg|thumb|Moselstadium Trier]]
Major sports clubs in Trier include:
*[[SV Eintracht Trier 05]], [[association football]]
*[[Gladiators Trier]], [[basketball]] (former [[TBB Trier]])
*[[DJK/MJC Trier]], women's [[team handball]]
*[[Trier Cardinals]], [[baseball]]
*[[PST Trier Stampers]], [[American Football]]
*[[FSV Trier-Tarforst]], intera alia [[association football|football]] and [[Rugby football|rugby]]

==International relations==
Trier is a fellow member of the QuattroPole union of cities, along with [[Luxembourg (city)|Luxembourg]], [[Saarbrücken]] and [[Metz]] (neighbouring countries: [[Luxembourg]] and [[France]]).

===Twin towns – sister cities===
{{See also|List of twin towns and sister cities in Germany}}
Trier is [[Sister city|twinned]] with:<ref>{{cite web |title=Städtepartnerschaften|url=https://www.trier.de/rathaus-buerger-in/internationale-beziehungen/staedtepartnerschaften/|website=trier.de|publisher=Trier|language=de|access-date=2021-03-17}}</ref>
{{div col|colwidth=20em}}
*{{flagicon|ENG}} [[Gloucester]], England, UK (1957)
*{{flagicon|FRA}} [[Metz]], France (1957)
*{{flagicon|ITA}} [[Ascoli Piceno]], Italy (1958)
*{{flagicon|NED}} [['s-Hertogenbosch]], Netherlands (1968)
*{{flagicon|CRO}} [[Pula]], Croatia (1971)
*{{flagicon|GER}} [[Weimar]], Germany (1987)
*{{flagicon|USA}} [[Fort Worth, Texas|Fort Worth]], United States (1987)
*{{flagicon|JPN}} [[Nagaoka, Niigata|Nagaoka]], Japan (2006)
*{{flagicon|CHN}} [[Xiamen]], China (2010)
*{{flagicon|UKR}} [[Izium]], Ukraine (2024)<ref>{{cite web|title=Stadtrat bringt Partnerschaft mit ukrainischer Stadt auf den Weg|language=de|date=2024-03-08|publisher=The city administration of Trier|url=https://www.trier.de/startseite/broker.jsp?uMen=0af70f72-90a0-9c31-9577-29a532ead2aa&uCon=fe172e30-36e1-e817-853d-73250004fea5&uTem=76d7090b-49e4-7271-94e8-c0f4087257ba}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|title=Neue Partnerstadt. Trier geht zehnten Städtebund mit Isjum ein|language=de|journal=Trierer Wochenspiegel|editor-first=Arnt|editor-last=Finkenberg|place=Trier|date=14 March 2024|issue=11|page=3}}</ref>
{{div col end}}

===Namesakes===
*{{flagicon|USA}} [[New Trier Township, Cook County, Illinois|New Trier Township]], Illinois, US, originally settled by people from Trier.
*{{flagicon|USA}} [[New Trier, Minnesota|New Trier]], Minnesota, US, settled by people from Trier about 1856.
*{{flagicon|USA}} [[New Trier High School]], an Illinois school named after Trier.

==Notable people==
{{div col|colwidth=30em}}
*[[Eucharius]] (died c. 250), first bishop of Trier
*[[Constantius Chlorus]] (c. 250–306), Roman emperor
*[[Maximian]] (c. 250–310), Roman emperor
*[[Valerius of Trèves|Valerius]] (died 320), second bishop of Trier
*[[Helena, mother of Constantine I|Helena]] (c. 250–330), saint, mother of Constantine the Great (residence in Trier by tradition)
*[[Athanasius of Alexandria]] (296/298–373), saint (in exile ca. 335)
*[[Paulinus of Trier|Paulinus]] (died 358), bishop of Trier
*[[Valentinian I]] (321–375), Roman emperor
*[[Ausonius]] (c. 310–395), Roman consul and poet
*[[Ambrose]] (c. 340–397), saint
*[[Apronia of Toul]] (6th century), nun and saint
*[[Saint Modesta]] (died c. 680), founder and Abbess of the monastery of Oeren
*[[Kaspar Olevianus]] (1536–1587), theologian
*[[Heinrich Marx]] (1777–1838), lawyer, father of Karl Marx
*[[Henriette Pressburg|Henriette Marx]] (1788–1863), mother of Karl Marx
*[[Johann Anton Ramboux]] (1790–1866), painter
*[[Jenny Marx]] (1814–1881), revolutionary, drama critic
*[[Karl Marx]] (1818–1883), social philosopher and revolutionary
*[[August Beer]] (1825–1863), scientist
*[[Udo Samel]] (born 1953), Actor
*[[Frederick A. Schroeder]] (1833–1899), American politician, mayor of [[Brooklyn]]
*[[Hans am Ende]] (1864–1918), painter
*[[Ludwig Kaas]] (1881–1952), Catholic priest and politician ([[Centre Party (Germany)|Zentrum]])
*[[Ludwig von Westphalen]] (1770 –1842), father-in-law of Karl Marx
*[[Oswald von Nell-Breuning]] (1890–1991), theologian
*[[Charles de Gaulle]] (1890–1970), General and French statesman, as commander of a battalion of Chasseurs during the [[Occupation of the Rhineland|French occupation of Rhineland]]
*[[Reinhard Heß]] (1904–1998), painter and glass painter
*[[Wolf Graf von Baudissin]] (1907–1993), general, military planner and [[Peace and conflict studies|peace researcher]]
*[[Peter Thullen]] (1907–1996), German-Ecuadorian mathematician
*[[Gitta Lind]] (1925–1974), singer
*[[Reinhold Bartel]] (1926–1996), operatic tenor
*[[Ernst Huberty]] (1927–2023), sports reporter
*[[Günther Steines]] (1928–1982), athlete
*[[Franz Grundheber]] (born 1937), baritone
*[[Otmar Seul]] (born 1943), lawyer, professor
*[[Helga Zepp-LaRouche]] (born 1948), journalist and politician
*[[Xavier Bout de Marnhac]] (born 1951), French general, former commander of [[Kosovo Force|KFOR]]
*[[Robert Zimmer (philosopher)|Robert Zimmer]] (born 1953), philosopher and essayist
*[[Ernst Ulrich Deuker]] (born 1954), musician
*[[François Weigel]] (born 1964), French pianist, composer and conductor
*[[Eric Jelen]] (born 1965), tennis player
*[[Martin Bambauer]] (born 1970), church musician
*[[Frank Findeiß]] (born 1971), poet
*[[Anja Kaesmacher]] (born 1974), operatic soprano
*[[Georg Meier (chess player)]] (born 1987), German grandmaster of chess
{{div col end}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
Heinz Monz: ''Trierer Biographisches Lexikon''. Landesarchivverwaltung Rheinland-Pfalz, Koblenz 2000. 539 p.&nbsp;{{ISBN|3-931014-49-5}}.

==External links==
{{commons|Trier}}
{{wikivoyage|Trier}}
*{{Official website}} {{in lang|de}}
*{{Cite NIE|wstitle=Treves|year=1905 |short=x}}
*{{cite EB1911 |wstitle=Trier |volume=27 |pages=268–269 |first=Alfred Bradley |last=Gough |short=1}}

{{Cities in Germany}}
{{Germany districts rhineland-palatinate}}
{{World Heritage Sites in Germany}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Trier| ]]
[[Category:10s BC establishments in the Roman Empire]]
[[Category:Cities in Rhineland-Palatinate]]
[[Category:Urban districts of Rhineland-Palatinate]]
[[Category:Gallia Belgica]]
[[Category:Landmarks in Germany]]
[[Category:Populated places established in the 1st century BC]]
[[Category:Roman towns and cities in Germany]]
[[Category:World Heritage Sites in Germany]]

Latest revision as of 15:40, 25 April 2024

Trier
Clockwise from top: Trier skyline; Aula Palatina; Karl Marx House; Trier market place; Trier Cathedral and Liebfrauenkirche, Trier; and Porta Nigra
Flag of Trier
Coat of arms of Trier
Location of Trier
Map
Trier is located in Germany
Trier
Trier
Trier is located in Rhineland-Palatinate
Trier
Trier
Coordinates: 49°45′24″N 06°38′29″E / 49.75667°N 6.64139°E / 49.75667; 6.64139
CountryGermany
StateRhineland-Palatinate
DistrictUrban district
Founded16 BC
Government
 • Lord mayor (2023–31) Wolfram Leibe[1] (SPD)
Area
 • Total117.06 km2 (45.20 sq mi)
Elevation
137 m (449 ft)
Population
 (2022-12-31)[2]
 • Total112,195
 • Density960/km2 (2,500/sq mi)
DemonymTrevian
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
Postal codes
54290–54296 (except 54291)
Dialling codes0651
Vehicle registrationTR
Websitewww.trier.de

Trier (/trɪər/ TREER,[3][4] German: [tʁiːɐ̯] ; Luxembourgish: Tréier [ˈtʀəɪɐ] ), formerly and traditionally known in English as Trèves (/trɛv/ TREV, French: [tʁɛv][5][6]) and Triers (see also names in other languages), is a city on the banks of the Moselle in Germany. It lies in a valley between low vine-covered hills of red sandstone in the west of the state of Rhineland-Palatinate, near the border with Luxembourg and within the important Moselle wine region.

Founded by the Romans in the late 1st century BC as Augusta Treverorum ("The City of Augustus among the Treveri"), Trier is considered Germany's oldest city.[7][8] It is also the oldest seat of a bishop north of the Alps. Trier was one of the four capitals of the Roman Empire during the Tetrarchy period in the late 3rd and early 4th centuries.[9] In the Middle Ages, the archbishop-elector of Trier was an important prince of the Church who controlled land from the French border to the Rhine. The archbishop-elector of Trier also had great significance as one of the seven electors of the Holy Roman Empire. Because of its significance during the Roman and Holy Roman empires, several monuments and cathedrals within Trier are listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.[9]

With an approximate population of 110,000, Trier is the fourth-largest city in its state, after Mainz, Ludwigshafen, and Koblenz.[10] The nearest major cities are Luxembourg City (50 km or 31 mi to the southwest), Saarbrücken (80 kilometres or 50 miles southeast), and Koblenz (100 km or 62 mi northeast).

The University of Trier, the administration of the Trier-Saarburg district and the seat of the ADD (Aufsichts- und Dienstleistungsdirektion), which until 1999 was the borough authority of Trier, and the Academy of European Law (ERA) are all based in Trier. It is one of the five "central places" of the state of Rhineland-Palatinate. Along with Luxembourg, Metz and Saarbrücken, fellow constituent members of the QuattroPole union of cities, it is central to the greater region encompassing Saar-Lor-Lux (Saarland, Lorraine and Luxembourg), Rhineland-Palatinate, and Wallonia.

History[edit]

The first traces of human settlement in the area of the city show evidence of linear pottery settlements dating from the early Neolithic period. Since the last pre-Christian centuries, members of the Celtic tribe of the Treveri settled in the area of today's Trier.[11] The city of Trier derives its name from the later Latin locative in Trēverīs for earlier Augusta Treverorum. According to the Archbishops of Trier, in the Gesta Treverorum, the founder of the city of the Trevians is Trebeta. German historian Johannes Aventinus also credited Trebeta with building settlements at Metz, Mainz, Basel, Strasbourg, Speyer and Worms.

Augusta Treverorum in the 4th century
Porta Nigra

The historical record describes the Roman Empire subduing the Treveri in the 1st century BC and establishing Augusta Treverorum about 16 BC.[12] The name distinguished it from the empire's many other cities honoring the first Roman emperor, Augustus. The city later became the capital of the province of Belgic Gaul; after the Diocletian Reforms, it became the capital of the prefecture of the Gauls, overseeing much of the Western Roman Empire. In the 4th century, Trier was one of the largest cities in the Roman Empire with a population around 75,000 and perhaps as much as 100,000.[13][14][15][16] The Porta Nigra ("Black Gate") dates from this era. A residence of the Western Roman emperor, Roman Trier was the birthplace of Saint Ambrose. Sometime between 395 and 418, probably in 407 the Roman administration moved the staff of the Praetorian Prefecture from Trier to Arles. The city continued to be inhabited but was not as prosperous as before. However, it remained the seat of a governor and had state factories for the production of ballistae and armor and woolen uniforms for the troops, clothing for the civil service, and high-quality garments for the Court. Northern Gaul was held by the Romans along a line (līmes) from north of Cologne to the coast at Boulogne through what is today southern Belgium until 460. South of this line, Roman control was firm, as evidenced by the continuing operation of the imperial arms factory at Amiens.

Scale model of Trier around 1800
Cathedral of Trier
Electoral Palace

The Franks seized Trier from Roman administration in 459. In 870, it became part of Eastern Francia, which developed into the Holy Roman Empire. Relics of Saint Matthias brought to the city initiated widespread pilgrimages. The bishops of the city grew increasingly powerful and the Archbishopric of Trier was recognized as an electorate of the empire, one of the most powerful states of Germany. The University of Trier was founded in the city in 1473. In the 17th century, the Archbishops and Prince-Electors of Trier relocated their residence to Philippsburg Castle in Ehrenbreitstein, near Koblenz. A session of the Reichstag was held in Trier in 1512, during which the demarcation of the Imperial Circles was definitively established.

In the years from 1581 to 1593, the Trier witch trials were held. It was one of the four largest witch trials in Germany alongside the Fulda witch trials, the Würzburg witch trial, and the Bamberg witch trials, perhaps even the largest one in European history. The persecutions started in the diocese of Trier in 1581 and reached the city itself in 1587, where it was to lead to the death of about 368 people, and was as such perhaps the biggest mass execution in Europe in peacetime. This counts only those executed within the city itself. The exact number of people executed in all the witch hunts within the diocese has never been established; a total of 1,000 has been suggested but not confirmed.

In the 17th and 18th centuries, the French-Habsburg rivalry brought war to Trier. Spain and France fought over the city during the Thirty Years' War. The bishop was imprisoned by Spain and the Holy Roman Emperor for his support for France between 1635 and 1645. In later wars between the Empire and France, French troops occupied the city during the Nine Years' War, the War of the Spanish Succession, and the War of the Polish Succession. After conquering Trier again in 1794 during the French Revolutionary Wars, France annexed the city and the electoral archbishopric was dissolved. After the Napoleonic Wars ended in 1815, Trier passed to the Kingdom of Prussia. Karl Marx, the German philosopher and one of the founders of Marxism, was born in the city in 1818.

As part of the Prussian Rhineland, Trier developed economically during the 19th century. The city rose in revolt during the revolutions of 1848 in the German states, although the rebels were forced to concede. It became part of the German Empire in 1871.

The synagogue on Zuckerbergstrasse was looted during the November 1938 Kristallnacht and later completely destroyed in a bomb attack in 1944. Multiple Stolperstein have been installed in Trier to commemorate those murdered and exiled during the Shoah.[17]

In June 1940 during World War II over 60,000 British prisoners of war, captured at Dunkirk and Northern France, were marched to Trier, which became a staging post for British soldiers headed for German prisoner-of-war camps. Trier was heavily bombed and bombarded in 1944. The city became part of the new state of Rhineland-Palatinate after the war. The university, dissolved in 1797, was restarted in the 1970s, while the Cathedral of Trier was reopened in 1974 after undergoing substantial and long-lasting renovations. Trier officially celebrated its 2,000th anniversary in 1984. On December 1, 2020, 5 people were killed by an allegedly drunk driver during a vehicle-ramming attack.[18] The Ehrang/Quint district of Trier was heavily damaged and flooded during the July 16, 2021 floods of Germany, Belgium, The Netherlands and Luxembourg.

Historical population
YearPop.±%
10020,000—    
30080,000+300.0%
40050,000−37.5%
125012,000−76.0%
136310,000−16.7%
15428,500−15.0%
16136,000−29.4%
17024,300−28.3%
18018,829+105.3%
187121,442+142.9%
190043,506+102.9%
191049,112+12.9%
191953,248+8.4%
191957,341+7.7%
193376,692+33.7%
193988,150+14.9%
195075,526−14.3%
196187,141+15.4%
1970103,724+19.0%
198794,118−9.3%
2011105,671+12.3%
2018110,636+4.7%
source:[19][circular reference]
View of the city from St. Mary's Column (Mariensäule)
Trier from the east (Petrisberg)

Trier sits in a hollow midway along the Moselle valley, with the most significant portion of the city on the east bank of the river. Wooded and vineyard-covered slopes stretch up to the Hunsrück plateau in the south and the Eifel in the north. The border with the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg is some 15 km (9 mi) away.

Largest groups of foreign residents
Country of birth Population (2013)
 Poland 688
 France 675
 Luxembourg 573
 Ukraine 476
 Russia 444

Neighbouring municipalities[edit]

Listed in clockwise order, beginning with the northernmost; all municipalities belong to the Trier-Saarburg district

Schweich, Kenn and Longuich (all part of the Verbandsgemeinde Schweich an der Römischen Weinstraße), Mertesdorf, Kasel, Waldrach, Morscheid, Korlingen and Gusterath (all in the Verbandsgemeinde Ruwer), Hockweiler, Franzenheim (both part of the Verbandsgemeinde Trier-Land), Konz and Wasserliesch (both part of the Verbandsgemeinde Konz), Igel, Trierweiler, Aach, Newel, Kordel, Zemmer (all in the Verbandsgemeinde Trier-Land).

Organization of city districts[edit]

Districts of Trier

The Trier urban area is divided into 19 city districts. For each district there is an Ortsbeirat (local council) of between 9 and 15 members, as well as an Ortsvorsteher (local representative). The local councils are charged with hearing the important issues that affect the district, although the final decision on any issue rests with the city council. The local councils nevertheless have the freedom to undertake limited measures within the bounds of their districts and their budgets.

The districts of Trier with area and inhabitants (December 31, 2009):

Official district number District with associated sub-districts Area
in km2
Inhabitants
11 Mitte/Gartenfeld 2.978 11,954
12 Nord (Nells Ländchen, Maximin) 3.769 13,405
13 Süd (St. Barbara, St. Matthias or St. Mattheis) 1.722 9,123
21 Ehrang/Quint 26.134 9,195
22 Pfalzel 2.350 3,514
23 Biewer 5.186 1,949
24 Ruwer/Eitelsbach 9.167 3,091
31 West/Pallien 8.488 7,005
32 Euren (Herresthal) 13.189 4,207
33 Zewen (Oberkirch) 7.496 3,634
41 Olewig 3.100 3,135
42 Kürenz (Alt-Kürenz, Neu-Kürenz) 5.825 8,708
43 Tarforst 4.184 6,605
44 Filsch 1.601 761
45 Irsch 4.082 2,351
46 Kernscheid 3.768 958
51 Feyen/Weismark 5.095 5,689
52 Heiligkreuz (Alt-Heiligkreuz, Neu-Heiligkreuz, St. Maternus) 2.036 6,672
53 Mariahof (St. Michael) 7.040 3,120
Totals 117.210 105,076

Climate[edit]

Trier has an oceanic climate (Köppen: Cfb), but with greater extremes than the marine versions of northern Germany. Summers are warm except in unusual heat waves and winters are recurrently cold, but not harsh. Precipitation is high despite not being on the coast.[20] As a result of the European heat wave in 2003, the highest temperature recorded was 39 °C on 8 August of that year. On 25 July 2019, a record-breaking temperature of 40.6 °C was recorded.[21] The lowest recorded temperature was −19.3 °C on February 2, 1956.[22]

Climate data for Trier (1991–2020 normals) (1948-present extremes)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 14.7
(58.5)
20.3
(68.5)
24.5
(76.1)
28.5
(83.3)
30.7
(87.3)
36.2
(97.2)
40.6
(105.1)
39.0
(102.2)
34.8
(94.6)
26.8
(80.2)
20.6
(69.1)
17.0
(62.6)
40.6
(105.1)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 4.5
(40.1)
6.1
(43.0)
10.8
(51.4)
15.7
(60.3)
19.7
(67.5)
23.0
(73.4)
25.2
(77.4)
24.9
(76.8)
20.4
(68.7)
14.6
(58.3)
8.6
(47.5)
5.1
(41.2)
14.9
(58.8)
Daily mean °C (°F) 2.0
(35.6)
2.8
(37.0)
6.2
(43.2)
10.0
(50.0)
13.9
(57.0)
17.1
(62.8)
19.1
(66.4)
18.6
(65.5)
14.5
(58.1)
10.3
(50.5)
5.8
(42.4)
2.8
(37.0)
10.2
(50.4)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) −0.4
(31.3)
−0.2
(31.6)
2.2
(36.0)
4.9
(40.8)
8.6
(47.5)
11.7
(53.1)
13.7
(56.7)
13.3
(55.9)
10.0
(50.0)
6.8
(44.2)
3.3
(37.9)
0.6
(33.1)
6.2
(43.2)
Record low °C (°F) −18.3
(−0.9)
−19.3
(−2.7)
−12.9
(8.8)
−6.2
(20.8)
−1.6
(29.1)
1.7
(35.1)
4.4
(39.9)
4.2
(39.6)
1.2
(34.2)
−3.4
(25.9)
−10.2
(13.6)
−14.4
(6.1)
−19.3
(−2.7)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 63.5
(2.50)
53.0
(2.09)
51.3
(2.02)
44.2
(1.74)
66.7
(2.63)
66.0
(2.60)
72.4
(2.85)
62.0
(2.44)
60.4
(2.38)
65.4
(2.57)
62.2
(2.45)
77.6
(3.06)
746.8
(29.40)
Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) 18.2 16.4 15.3 13.0 14.7 13.5 13.9 13.6 12.6 15.3 18.1 18.7 183.7
Average snowy days (≥ 1.0 cm) 5.9 4.9 1.6 0.1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1.0 4.3 17.8
Average relative humidity (%) 87.2 82.5 75.1 69.0 71.0 70.8 69.9 71.9 77.9 84.5 88.5 89.2 78.1
Mean monthly sunshine hours 48.1 70.3 130.9 187.1 213.8 224.7 235.1 215.3 159.8 96.3 44.8 38.7 1,663.4
Source 1: World Meteorological Organization[23][24]
Source 2: Wetterdienst.de - Wetter- und Klimaberatung

Main sights[edit]

Roman Monuments, Cathedral of St. Peter and Church of Our Lady in Trier
UNESCO World Heritage Site
Ruins of the Imperial Baths
IncludesAmphitheater, Roman bridge, Barbara Baths, Igel Column, Porta Nigra, Imperial Baths, Aula Palatina, Cathedral and Liebfrauenkirche
CriteriaCultural: i, iii, iv, vi
Reference367
Inscription1986 (10th Session)
The Aula Palatina, or Constantine Basilica, built 4th century AD during the reign of Roman emperor Constantine I

Trier is known for its well-preserved Roman and medieval buildings, which include:

Museums[edit]

Rheinisches Landesmuseum Trier
  • Rheinisches Landesmuseum (an important archaeological museum for the Roman period; also some early Christian and Romanesque sculpture);
  • Domschatzkammer (Treasury of Trier Cathedral; with the Egbert Shrine, the reliquary of the Holy Nail, the cup of Saint Helena and other reliquaries, liturgical objects, ivories, manuscripts, etc., many from the Middle Ages);
  • Museum am Dom, formerly Bischöfliches Dom- und Diözesanmuseum (Museum of the Diocese of Trier; religious art, also some Roman artefacts);
  • Stadtmuseum Simeonstift (history of Trier, displaying among other exhibits a scale model of the medieval city);
  • Karl Marx House; a museum exhibiting Marx's personal history, volumes of poetry, original letters, and photographs with personal dedications. There is also a collection of rare first editions and international editions of his works, as well as exhibits on the development of socialism in the 19th century;
  • Toy Museum of Trier;
  • Ethnological and open-air museum Roscheider Hof, a museum in the neighbouring town of Konz, right at the city limits of Trier, which shows the history of rural culture in the northwest Rhineland Palatinate and in the area where Germany, Luxembourg and Lorraine meet;
  • Fell Exhibition Slate Mine; site in the municipality of Fell, 20 km (12 mi) from Trier, containing an underground mine, a mine museum, and a slate mining trail.

Education[edit]

Uni Trier Campus 1
University of applied sciences, central campus

Trier is home to the University of Trier, founded in 1473, closed in 1796 and restarted in 1970. The city also has the Trier University of Applied Sciences. The Academy of European Law (ERA) was established in 1992 and provides training in European law to legal practitioners. In 2010 there were about 40 Kindergärten,[25] 25 primary schools and 23 secondary schools in Trier, such as the Humboldt Gymnasium Trier, Max Planck Gymnasium, Auguste Viktoria Gymnasium, Angela Merici Gymnasium, Friedrich Wilhelm Gymnasium and the Nelson-Mandela Realschule Plus, Kurfürst-Balduin Realschule Plus, Realschule Plus Ehrang.[26]

Annual events[edit]

  • Until 2014, Trier was home to Germany's largest Roman festival, Brot und Spiele (German for Bread and Games – a translation of the famous Latin phrase panem et circenses from the satires of Juvenal).
  • Trier has been the base for the German round of the World Rally Championship since 2002, with the rally's presentation held next to the Porta Nigra.
  • Trier holds a Christmas street festival every year called the Trier Christmas Market on the Hauptmarkt (Main Market Square) and the Domfreihof in front of the Cathedral of Trier.
  • The Olewiger Weinfest is an annual wine festival held in the village of Olewig, just outside of Trier, Germany. The festival takes place over three days, typically in August, and features a wide variety of activities, including wine tastings, live music and food stalls.

Culture[edit]

Trier has a municipal theatre, Theater Trier, for musical theatre, plays and dance.

Transport[edit]

Trier station has direct railway connections to many cities in the region. The nearest cities by train are Cologne, Saarbrücken and Luxembourg. Via the motorways A 1, A 48 and A 64 Trier is linked with Koblenz, Saarbrücken and Luxembourg. The nearest commercial (international) airports are in Luxembourg (0:40 h by car), Frankfurt-Hahn (1:00 h), Saarbrücken (1:00 h), Frankfurt (2:00 h) and Cologne/Bonn (2:00 h). The Moselle is an important waterway and is also used for river cruises. A new passenger railway service on the western side of the Mosel is scheduled to open in December 2018.[27]

Sports[edit]

Moselstadium Trier

Major sports clubs in Trier include:

International relations[edit]

Trier is a fellow member of the QuattroPole union of cities, along with Luxembourg, Saarbrücken and Metz (neighbouring countries: Luxembourg and France).

Twin towns – sister cities[edit]

Trier is twinned with:[28]

Namesakes[edit]

Notable people[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Wolfram Leibe (SPD) bleibt Oberbürgermeister in Trier, SWR Aktuell, 25 September 2022.
  2. ^ "Bevölkerungsstand 2022, Kreise, Gemeinden, Verbandsgemeinden" (PDF) (in German). Statistisches Landesamt Rheinland-Pfalz. 2023.
  3. ^ "Trier" (US) and "Trier". Lexico UK English Dictionary. Oxford University Press. Archived from the original on 2020-03-22.
  4. ^ "Trier". Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary. Retrieved April 2, 2019.
  5. ^ "Trèves" (US) and "Trèves". Oxford Dictionaries UK English Dictionary. Oxford University Press.[dead link]
  6. ^ "Trèves". The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language (5th ed.). HarperCollins. Retrieved April 2, 2019.
  7. ^ Rathaus der Stadt Trier. "Stadt Trier – City of Trier – La Ville de Trèves | Website of the Municipality of Trier". Archived from the original on 2002-08-08. Retrieved 2015-08-26.
  8. ^ An honor that is contested by Cologne, Kempten, and Worms.
  9. ^ a b "Roman Monuments, Cathedral of St Peter and Church of Our Lady in Trier". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization. Retrieved 22 May 2022.
  10. ^ "Bevölkerung der Gemeinden am 31.12.2010" (PDF). Statistisches Landesamt Rheinland-Pfalz (in German). 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-01-31.
  11. ^ See: Heinen, pp. 1–12.
  12. ^ The City of Trier, Trier University, retrieved 11 May 2019
  13. ^ "TRIER THE CENTER OF ANTIQUITY IN GERMANY". 8 March 2012. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2018-12-25. Retrieved 2015-08-26.
  14. ^ LaVerne, F.K. (1991). Europe by Eurail 2010: Touring Europe by Train. Globe Pequot Press. p. 337. ISBN 9780762761630. Retrieved 2015-08-26.
  15. ^ Baker, Myron (2013). BEYOND OUR WORLD: The Exciting Story of a Treasure Hunter, Historian, and Adventurer. Dorrance Publishing Co. p. 182. ISBN 9781480901872. Retrieved 2021-01-04.
  16. ^ Victor, Helena; Fischer, Svante. "The Fall and Decline of the Roman Urban Mind | Svante Fischer and Helena Victor - Academia.edu". academia.edu. Retrieved 2015-08-26.
  17. ^ List of Stolperstein in Trier (in German).
  18. ^ Trier: Five die as car ploughs through Germany pedestrian zone. bbc.com. Retrieved 2021-01-04.
  19. ^ Einwohnerentwicklung von Trier [Population development]. wikipedia.de (in German). Retrieved January 4, 2021.
  20. ^ "Trier, Germany Köppen Climate Classification (Weatherbase)". Weatherbase. Retrieved 2019-02-02.
  21. ^ "Neuer Hitzerekord in Rheinland-Pfalz: 40,6 Grad in Trier". welt.de (in German). 2019-07-25. Retrieved 2023-10-19.
  22. ^ "Wetterrekorde Deutschland". Wetterdienst.de (in German). Retrieved 2019-02-02.
  23. ^ "World Meteorological Organization Climate Normals for 1991–2020". World Meteorological Organization Climatological Standard Normals (1991–2020). National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Archived from the original on 12 October 2023. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
  24. ^ "Trier (10609) – WMO Weather Station". NOAA. Retrieved February 2, 2019.
  25. ^ "Stadt Trier – Startseite | Kindergärten in Trier". trier.de, City of Trier. Retrieved 2015-08-26.
  26. ^ "Stadt Trier – Startseite – Schulen in Trier". trier.de, City of Trier. Retrieved 2015-08-26.
  27. ^ Fender, Keith (12 February 2014). "Plans approved for Trier suburban line Written by". International Railway Journal. Retrieved 2014-02-25.
  28. ^ "Städtepartnerschaften". trier.de (in German). Trier. Retrieved 2021-03-17.
  29. ^ "Stadtrat bringt Partnerschaft mit ukrainischer Stadt auf den Weg" (in German). The city administration of Trier. 2024-03-08.
  30. ^ Finkenberg, Arnt, ed. (14 March 2024). "Neue Partnerstadt. Trier geht zehnten Städtebund mit Isjum ein". Trierer Wochenspiegel (in German) (11). Trier: 3.

Further reading[edit]

Heinz Monz: Trierer Biographisches Lexikon. Landesarchivverwaltung Rheinland-Pfalz, Koblenz 2000. 539 p. ISBN 3-931014-49-5.

External links[edit]