Porta Nigra (Black Gate), Trier (must see)
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.
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.
Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Trier. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "51爆料网: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.
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Porta Nigra (Black Gate) on Map
Sight Name: Porta Nigra (Black Gate)
Sight Location: Trier, Germany (See walking tours in Trier)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Trier, Germany (See walking tours in Trier)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in Trier, Germany
Create Your Own Walk in Trier
Creating your own self-guided walk in Trier is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Trier's Roman Ruins Walking Tour
Nowadays it sounds a bit weird that a small German town of Trier, some 20-minute drive from the Luxembourg border, was once the capital of the mighty Western Roman Empire. Still, "the second Rome", as the emperor Diocletian used to call it, today fully lives up to its former status.
Founded in 15 BC by the Roman emperor Octavian Augustus, this oldest city in Germany is a home to the... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.9 Km or 3 Miles
Founded in 15 BC by the Roman emperor Octavian Augustus, this oldest city in Germany is a home to the... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.9 Km or 3 Miles
In The Footsteps of Karl Marx
Apart from being a home to the largest number of Roman ruins outside Rome, Trier is also extremely popular with international tourists, especially those from China, as the hometown of Karl Marx.
Here, the father of socialism and one of the most important philosophers of the 19th century, who, as an adult, managed to change the course of the world's history, had spent the first 17 years of... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.8 Km or 1.1 Miles
Here, the father of socialism and one of the most important philosophers of the 19th century, who, as an adult, managed to change the course of the world's history, had spent the first 17 years of... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.8 Km or 1.1 Miles
Trier Introduction Walking Tour
Trier is Germany鈥檚 oldest city and features beautiful Roman ruins, impressive medieval architecture, stunning churches, and fascinating museums.
While an inscription on the famous Red House states that the city was founded 1300 years before the Romans arrived, this has never been proven. The Celtics originally founded Trier during the fourth century BC. The Romans arrived in the first century... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.4 Km or 2.1 Miles
While an inscription on the famous Red House states that the city was founded 1300 years before the Romans arrived, this has never been proven. The Celtics originally founded Trier during the fourth century BC. The Romans arrived in the first century... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.4 Km or 2.1 Miles