Trier - Cathedral of Trier

Founded by the Romans around 30 BC as "Augusta Treverorum", Trier claims (just like Xanten, Cologne, Worms, Speyer...) to be the oldest existing German city.

Trier, the center of a diocese already within the 3rd century, was destroyed by the Alemanni (275), rebuilt under Constantine the Great, who resided in "Augusta Treverorum". Under his the reign Maximin of Trier (329–346), the fifth Bishop here, started the construction of an giant ecclesial ensemble with four basilicas and a baptisterium. This was done on the foundations of a Roman settlement - and had a floorplan about 4 times larger than the Cathedral of today.

The buildings, ruined by the Franks, got rebuilt and destroyed again by the Vikings (Normans) in 882. In 977 Emperor Otto II installed his senior official Egbert of Trier as Bishop, what did not prevent Egbert from supporting Otto´s rival Henry II (Henry the Wrangler) for some time. Egbert started a building process, that reused lots of the ruined structures, incl. Roman walls and pillars. The result can be seen today. The Cathedral of Trier is believed to be the oldest church in Germany.

There are three crypts here. One under the western choir (11th), one under the eastern part of the nave (11th) and, connected to this, one under the eastern choir (1196).