Page 349 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Germany

TRIER  347

T Amphitheater
Petrisberg. Tel (0651) 730 10. Open
Apr–Sep: 9am–6pm; Oct & Mar: 9am–
5pm; Nov–Feb: 9am–4pm daily. &
Near the imperial baths are
the ruins of the Roman amphi­
theatre, dating from the 1st
century AD. This was the scene
of gladiatorial fights and animal
contests. The entire structure,
consisting of an elliptical arena
and a stepped auditorium, was
surrounded by a high wall,
divided into individual storeys
by colonnaded arcades. The
complex was designed to seat
up to 20,000 people. In the 5th
century the inhabitants of Trier The ruins of Barbaratherme, ancient Roman baths
used the amphitheatre as a
place of refuge from the T Barbaratherme R St Paulin-Kirche
increasingly frequent raids by Südallee. Open Apr–Sep: 9am–6pm; Thebäerstraße. Tel (0651) 270 850.
Germanic tribes. Oct and Mar: 9am–5pm; Nov–Feb Open Mar–Sep: 9am–6pm Mon, Wed–
9am–4pm. & Sat, 11am–6pm Tue, 10am–6pm Sun;
R Heiligkreuzkapelle Not far from the Roman bridge Oct–Feb: 9am–5pm Mon, Wed–Sat,
Arnulfstraße/Rotbachstraße. across the Mosel River are the 11am–5pm Tue, 10am–7:30pm Sun.
The Chapel of the Holy Cross, ruins of the Barbara baths (2nd This church was built in the
in a secluded spot, is one of century AD). Although above 12th century, on the foun­
Trier’s more interesting historic ground not much has been dations of an older Christian
buildings. Built in the Roman­ preserved, the extensive system chapel. In 1674 it was blown up
esque style in the second half of underground heating by the French army. St Paulin, its
of the 11th century, at the channels, the hypocaustum, patron saint and bishop in Trier,
initiative of the parson of Arnulfa clearly demon strates the original was one of the few to voice his
Cathedral, it is a small building size of this public bath complex. opposition to the Aryan credo
with a ground plan in the shape In the Middle Ages, Patrician and of Emperor Constantine II, in
of the Greek cross and an octa­ aristocratic families transformed which he rejected the divinity of
gonal tower set within the cross. the baths into their residences. In Christ and proclaimed himself
Although it suffered serious the 17th century Jesuit monks alone to be made in God’s
damage during World War II, it dismantled the remaining image. Paulin did not meet with
was meticulously restored to its structures, and used the a martyr’s death, but was exiled
original state in the years 1957–8. recovered building materials to to Phrygia (now Turkey), where
construct their own college. he died in 358. The present
R Basilika St Matthias church, a true gem of Rococo
Matthiasstraße 85. Tel (0651) 170 90. T St Maximin-Kirche architecture, was designed by
Open 8am–7pm daily. Maximinstraße. Tel (0651) 979 07 90. Balthasar Neumann, who also
This church’s history dates back 8 obligatory. created the main altar.
to the 5th century, when it In the Middle Ages there were
became the burial place of as many as four abbeys in Trier.
St Eucharius, the first bishop of St Maximin Abbey was founded
Trier. From the 8th century, the on the burial site of its patron
church was run by Benedictine saint, who died in AD 325. The
monks. In the 10th–11th surviving church was built in
centuries a new church was the 13th century, on the found­
erected as burial site of the ations of the previous buildings.
relics of the apostle, St Matthew. Its Romanesque–Gothic forms
It was twice remodelled at the were partly obscured by the
turn of the 15th to 16th cent­ remodelling work carried out in
uries, when it acquired its rich 1580–1698. Now deconsecrated,
Gothic vaults. The present the church is used as a music
abbey dates from the 16th venue. It is possible to book
century. The shrine holding the guided tours of the atmospheric
apostle’s relics ensured that crypt. The Carolingian wall
the church became one of the paintings that originally adorned
most important destinations the crypt are now in the Museum Baroque ceiling paintings in the Rococo
for pilgrims in the region. am Dom Trier (see p344). St Paulin-Kirche

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