Summer 2007 - Day 29

Day 29


We found the cathedral at Basel rather difficult to find. It was probably relatively easy but our GPS disgraced itself again. However, amid the threats concerning the GPS future we did, finally, find the cathedral. David must have still been in a fury when taking this photo of the exterior - note the lean. The Tom Tom navigator we used in previous years was excellent.





After our short but eventful visit to Basel we then left Switzerland and headed back to Germany to see the city of Trier.

Trier is built on the banks of the Moselle River and is Germany's oldest city. Trier was founded as a city in 16BC by Emperor Augustus.

Facing the threat of a Germanic invasion, the Romans finally built a city wall around A.D. 180, 6.4 kilometers long, which ultimately had five gates. The remains of the gates at the Amphitheater and the Roman Bridge can still be seen and the Porta Nigra is almost perfectly preserved.

Built from sandstone the Porta Nigra stands more than 30 metres high and contains blocks weighing up to 6 tons.


















The present Cathedral of Trier stands on top of a former Constantinian Palace.

The Holy Relics Chamber in the cathedral is the final resting place of the holy tunic, the undivided and seamless tunic that, according to legend, Jesus wore during his crucifixion and for which the soldiers drew lots.

St Mary's Altar.

The Market Fountain from 1595 shows St. Peter, the patron saint of the Cathedral as well as the city, standing on top, surrounded by the four cardinal virtues of good city government, Justice, Strength, Temperance, and Wisdom, but also by monsters and frolicking monkeys.




The house where Karl Marx was born on 5th May 1818. The house has been converted to a museum on his life and work.

The so-called Basilika, Constantine's throne room, is the largest surviving single-room structure from Roman times. The Romans wanted the architecture to express the magnificence and might of the emperor.

The Roman building was embellished by colorful marble inlay, mosaics, and statues and was made comfortable by a hollow-floor heating system, but all this splendor and technology were destroyed (in the 5th century) by the Germanic Franks, who built a settlement inside the roofless ruin.

The Electoral Palace is directly next to the Basilika.

Going to the baths was an important part of Roman life and construction on the Imperial Baths began at the end of the 3rd century but the works were never completed.







Enough walking around for the day.