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Black Gate is an ancient Roman city gate and the largest Roman gate north of the Alps. It is part of Trier's UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The Black Gate name originated in the Middle Ages and refers to the darkened stone color. The Roman gate was built after 170 AD and used as a town entrance for centuries. The gate was built with 7200 massive sandstone blocks that weigh as much as six tons and are held in place by iron clamps. The construction of the gate was never completed for unknown reasons. Black Gate guarded Trier's northern entrance and was one of four city gates.

During the Middle Ages, the other three gates fell into disuse, and their stones were used for other building projects. However, the Black Gate had important historical value as revered Greek monk Simeon's home. Simeon was a religious hermit who sought sanctuary in the Black Gate during the 11h century. The Black Gate was then turned into two churches. Monks used the upper church, and the lower church was available to the public.

Napoleon Bonaparte dissolved the church in 1802. Bonaparte wanted to tear down the structure, but residents convinced him to save it and restore it to its Roman origins.

Visitors can see the remains of Roman columns leading up to the gate. Black Gate is open to visitors, and during the summer, an actor portraying a Roman army officer leads tours. Visitors can climb to the gate's top for commanding views of Trier.

Main Market Square is the Trier's central square and one of its largest squares. Main Market Square has been a marketplace since the 10th century. Trier's main shopping streets meet here, and the square features many historic and landmark buildings.

Archbishop Heinrich I installed a cross in Main Market Square in 958. This ancient cross is one of Europe's oldest market crosses. It stands on an ancient Roman pillar, which served as a pillory. Visitors can see four holes where chains would have been attached to punish and humiliate law-breaking citizens publicly.

The cross features a Latin inscription, an image of the Lamb of God, and a victory banner. The sides of the cross have a sundial and a depiction of Saint Peter. The market cross is a replica, and the original cross is on display at the Simeonstift Municipal Museum.

The Petrusbrunnen fountain was created in 1594 by sculptor Hans Ruprecht Hoffman. A statue of Saint Peter stands at the top of the fountain, and representations of virtues stand around the fountain's base. The statues represent Fortitude, Temperance, Justice, and Wisdom. At the beginning of the Old Town Festival, residents add decorative lighting and a flower bouquet to the Saint Peter statue to ensure good holiday weather.

Main Market Square features historic houses from Renaissance, Baroque, and Classical periods, including the Steipe and Red Houses.

Visitors can access the Church of Saint Gangolf through the square. In addition, the square is an entrance point to the city's former Jewish quarter.

Main Market Square hosts several events and festivals throughout the year. For example, visitors might catch the Street Festival, the Old Town Festival, the Christmas Market, a New Year's Run, or the Corpus Christi Procession.

The Basilica of Constantine is a Roman palace basilica that was originally built between AD 300 and AD 310. It currently houses the Church of Our Redeemer and is part of Trier's UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The Basilica of Constantine was originally part of a complex, not the stand-alone building it is today. The basilica was constructed in solid brick with black and white marble floors and an impressive floor and wall heating system.

The Bishop of Trier used the building as his residence during the Middle Ages. The basilica was incorporated into the archbishop Lothar von Metternich's palace during the 17th century. During the 19th century, Frederick William IV of Prussia restored the building to its Roman state.

The Basilica became a Protestant Church in 1856. It was rebuilt after being damaged during World War II. Restorers didn't replace the inner decorations, so visitors can see the brick walls from the inside.

The Basilica of Constantine is an impressively large building at 33 meters high (108 feet) and 67 meters long (220 feet). The basilica's windows create an optical illusion that makes the building look even bigger than it is.

Excavation work underneath the basilica has been preserved, and visitors can take a guided tour to view the underground Roman area. The basilica also hosts several inspirational concerts every year.

The Imperial Roman Baths were constructed during Constantine I's reign in the fourth century. Trier's baths are the largest Roman baths outside of Rome. The original bathing structures were over 200 meters long (656 feet) and 100 meters wide (328 feet).

Constantine started building the baths as part of a city-wide building project. Trier was one of the Empire's most important cities and considered a "Second Rome." Roman Trier was home to between 75,000 and 100,000 people.

Bathing was an important part of Roman culture, and the baths were open to the public. The hot water pools reached 40 Celsius (104 Fahrenheit), and the complex had an underground tunnel system for staff. During the Middle Ages, the baths were turned into a castle. The baths have also been used as a city wall and a monastery.

Today's visitors can tour the baths and the underground passageways. The Imperial Roman Baths are part of Trier's UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The Trier Amphitheater was erected around the 2nd century AD during the rule of Antoninus Pius. Dug into the side of a hill, the amphitheater is thought to have held up to 20,000 spectators at a time, which makes it the 10th largest Roman arena preserved intact to this day.

The amphitheater was incorporated into the city's fortification system, the defensive wall, serving partially as a gate. Preceding the entrance were two narrow passages, called vomitoria, which led through the embankments to the spectator stands. Contrary to what one may think, a vomitorium wasn鈥檛 a place for vomiting but an anteroom in which the crowds gathered prior to being 鈥渧omited鈥� into the stands or back out to go home.

In times of crisis, hot oil and wild animals were unleashed from the amphitheater upon those who dared to attack the city.

The primary purpose of the venue, however, was entertainment: animal shows and gladiatorial fights. Both animals and fighters were kept in the cellar beneath the arena. The amphitheater was renovated in 293 AD, when Constantius Chlorus moved to Trier, which is thought to be the timeframe in which the cellar was added. A small burial ground, containing the graves of 46 people, was discovered in 1996.

Today, the amphitheater is used as a performance venue, hosting antiquity festivals and staged gladiator shows. It was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1986.

Rhineland Museum focuses on Trier's impressive archeology. Exhibits show artifacts from the Stone Age, the Roman era, the Middle Ages, and more modern times.

Visitors can see ancient tools, jewelry, and weapons in the Stone Age exhibit. One of the most remarkable displays features the Trassem gold hoard from 1600 BC. Many of the other items are from the Celtic area.

The museum has an impressive collection of Roman sculptures. A replica of the 30-meter tall (98-feet) Igel Column is located in the courtyard. One of the exhibit rooms is dedicated to Roman-era grave monuments, including the Neumagen Wine Ship monument. Many Roman frescoes and detailed mosaics are also on display.

The Roman section includes a scale model of Trier in Roman times. Trier functioned as the Empire's northern capital, and archeologists have unearthed an impressive collection of Roman artifacts, including the largest Roman gold hoard ever discovered.

During the Middle Ages, Trier became an important Christian center. The Middle Ages exhibits include early Christian gravestones and several Romanesque sculptures. The Modern Era exhibit has an impressive reconstruction of a Christoph von Rheineck's 1535 funeral monument.

The Church of Our Lady (Liebfrauenkirche) in Trier is a remarkable example of French High Gothic architecture outside of France. Recognized by UNESCO as part of the Roman Monuments, Cathedral of Saint Peter, and Church of Our Lady in Trier World Heritage Site, this church stands next to the Trier Cathedral, sharing a wall and cloister with it. Originally, a Roman double church occupied this site, initiated by a large endowment from Roman Emperor Constantine in 326 AD. By the early 13th century, the southern part had fallen into disrepair, prompting Archbishop Theoderich von Wied to commission French builders from Champagne to reconstruct it. Construction likely began in 1230, and the church was completed around 1260.

The Church of Our Lady鈥檚 design is unique, featuring a cruciform floor plan shaped like a rose, symbolizing the Virgin Mary as the Rosa Mystica. This rose design includes twelve "petals," representing the twelve tribes of Israel and the Twelve Apostles. Supporting columns are decorated with paintings of the apostles and the articles of the Apostles' Creed, which can only be fully appreciated from a spot marked by a golden star.

Historically, the church has undergone significant transformations. In 1492, a peak known for its impressive craftsmanship crowned the central tower but was destroyed in a 1631 storm. Later, the roof was replaced in 1945 and again, with a steeper version, in 2003. Designated a minor basilica by Pope Pius XII in 1951, this church holds a deep architectural and spiritual significance. Today, it stands as a Gothic masterpiece with ancient roots, supported by Roman column foundations beneath the structure.

Saint Peter's Cathedral is Germany's oldest church and Trier's oldest building still serving its original purpose. The cathedral is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

It is thought that Emperor Constantine the Great commissioned the cathedral and built it on top of a Roman palace. The next-door Church of Our Lady was also built on top of the original Roman complex.

Bishop Maximin oversaw the cathedral's construction in the fourth century. This impressive cathedral was four times the size of the current cathedral and features four basilicas.

Parts of the present-day church's brick walls and piers are from the original cathedral. The cathedral has been damaged and rebuilt several times over the centuries. Saint Peter's Cathedral is mainly Romanesque but features Gothic vaults, Baroque chapels, and Renaissance sculptures.

Visitors will find Roman brickwork on the north facade. The cathedral's stunning west facade was built in the 11th century. The Chapel of the Holy Robe was added to the east choir in the 18th century.

There is a Latin inscription above the tallest tower's clock. The inscription can be translated as "You do not know what time the Lord is coming."

The interior features three Romanesque naves with Gothic vaults. Four original Roman columns have been transformed into cruciform piers.

The invaluable Holy Robe is featured in a Baroque chapel. The relic is thought to be the robe Jesus wore during his crucifixion, and Saint Helena discovered the relic in the fourth century. Since 1512, the cathedral has held irregular pilgrimages to allow the faithful to view the Holy Robe. The last pilgrimage was held in 2012.