ancient ruins
Porta Nigra
The best-preserved Roman city gate north of the Alps, its blackened sandstone has guarded Trier for nearly 1,900 years.
1 km · about 5 min drive
EuropeGermanyRheinland-Pfalz
Trier
Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany · Europe
About Trier
Trier works well as a base: 10 minutes from Tarforst, 21km from Mullerthal Trail.
Trier is in Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany, with about 100,000 people. You drive on the right here. The nearest town is Tarforst, about 4 km away.
Trier ( TREER, German: [tʁiːɐ̯] ; Luxembourgish: Tréier [ˈtʀɜɪ̯ɐ] ), formerly and traditionally known in English as Trèves ( TREV, French: [tʁɛv] ) and Triers (see also names in other languages), is a city on the banks of the Moselle in Germany. It lies in a valley between low vine-covered hills of red sandstone inRead more
the west of the state of Rhineland-Palatinate, near the border with Luxembourg and within the Moselle wine region.
Founded by the Romans in the late 1st century BC as Augusta Treverorum ("The City of Augustus among the Treveri"), Trier is considered Germany's oldest city. It is also the oldest seat of a bishop north of the Alps. Trier was one of the four capitals of the Roman Empire during the Tetrarchy period in the late 3rd and early 4th centuries. In the Middle Ages, the archbishop-elector of Trier was an important prince of the Church who controlled land from the French border to the Rhine. The archbishop-elector of Trier also had great significance as one of the seven electors of the Holy Roman Empire. Because of its significance during the Roman and Holy Roman empires, several monuments and cathedrals within Trier are listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
With an approximate population of 110,000, Trier is the fourth-largest city in its state, after Mainz, Ludwigshafen, and Koblenz. The nearest major cities are Luxembourg City (50 km or 31 mi to the southwest), Saarbrücken (80 kilometres or 50 miles southeast), and Koblenz (100 km or 62 mi northeast).
The University of Trier, the administration of the Trier-Saarburg district and the seat of the ADD (Aufsichts- und Dienstleistungsdirektion), which until 1999 was the borough authority of Trier, and the Academy of European Law (ERA) are all based in Trier. It is one of the five "central places" of the state of Rhineland-Palatinate. Along with Luxembourg, Metz and Saarbrücken, fellow constituent members of the QuattroPole union of cities, it is central to the greater region encompassing Saar-Lor-Lux (Saarland, Lorraine and Luxembourg), Rhineland-Palatinate, and Wallonia.
Where to Stay in Trier
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to see near Trier?
Within an hour or so of Trier: Porta Nigra (1 km), Luxembourg Moselle Valley (16 km), Echternach Basilica (17 km), Echternach Abbey (17 km).
Are there any good drives near Trier?
The nearest famous roads are Route du Vin, Moselle Valley Road (B53) and Mosel Valley Wine Route.
Where is Trier?
Trier is in Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany, about 4 km from Tarforst.
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Quick Information
- Population
- 100,129
- Continent
- Europe
- Country
- Germany
- Region
- Rheinland-Pfalz
- Timezone
- Europe/Berlin
- Coordinates
- 49.7557, 6.6394
Emergency & Services
Essential numbers in Germany
ADAC roadside assistance: +49 89 22 22 22. No general speed limit on some autobahn sections but advisory 130 km/h.
Full driving guide for GermanyTags
Worth the detour from Trier
8 notable places within an hour's drive.
scenic viewpoint
Luxembourg Moselle Valley
Terraced Riesling vineyards line the gentle Moselle, a string of wine villages on a slow scenic river drive.
16 km · about 20 min drive
cathedral
Echternach Basilica
The abbey town of Luxembourg's oldest city, famed for its UNESCO dancing procession and a Romanesque basilica.
17 km · about 20 min drive
landmark
Echternach Abbey
Benedictine abbey founded in 698 in Luxembourg's oldest town, with a basilica, museum and parking near the German border bridge.
17 km · about 20 min drive
natural wonder
Mullerthal Trail
Spectacular hiking trail through Luxembourg's 'Little Switzerland', featuring dramatic sandstone rock formations and lush forests.
21 km · about 25 min drive
natural wonder
Mullerthal
Sandstone rock landscape in eastern Luxembourg known as Little Switzerland, with narrow gorges, waterfalls and forest trailhead car parks.
23 km · about 25 min drive
waterfall
Schiessentümpel Waterfall (Schéissendëmpel)
Three-cascade waterfall under a small stone bridge on the Black Ernz in the Mullerthal, a short walk from roadside parking.
25 km · about 30 min drive
castle
Beaufort Castle
A romantic medieval ruin paired with a Renaissance château at the edge of the Mullerthal forest region.
27 km · about 30 min drive
Driving roads near Trier
- 16 kmLuxembourg Moselle ValleyTerraced Riesling vineyards line the gentle Moselle, a string of wine villages on a slow scenic river drive.
- 29 kmSaarschleifeFrom the Cloef viewpoint and treetop walk, the Saar River carves a spectacular horseshoe through forested hills.
- 31 kmRoute du VinWine road running about 42 kilometres along the Moselle from Schengen to Wasserbillig, linking terraced vineyards and riverside villages.
- 40 kmGrand Duchess Charlotte BridgeLuxembourg City's striking 'Red Bridge', a scarlet steel span soaring 74 m above the Alzette valley to link the old town with the Kirchberg European quarter.
- 40 kmChemin de la CornicheRampart walkway along Luxembourg City's old walls, described as Europe's most beautiful balcony, overlooking the Grund quarter.
- 43 kmMoselle Valley Road (B53)A slow, beautiful river road through the steepest vineyards in Europe between Trier and Koblenz.
Driving in Germany
- Drives on
- the right
- Petrol
- ~€1.78/litre
- Motorway tolls
- None
When to drive here
April to October
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