Front panel when side panels are open:
Rear panel at front when closed:
Our base in Trier was some distance away from the city, in the Ruwer valley where we stayed at a local inn and winery renowned for its Ruwer/Mosel valley wines, especially its Rieslings.
Hotel Karlesmuhle (Winery). The grapes are grown on steep hillsides.
It was a very pretty setting with horses and geese in the neighbouring fields. I had a delicious dinner of trout from the local stream and John enjoyed roasted wild boar from the woods. We of course sampled several of their wines which were excellent. The place was very busy, especially on the second night when several parties were holding functions, including a group who arrived on huge three-wheeled motor cycles. Despite the crowds, we were well looked after, given our own little dining room and attended to personally by the owner, a good humoured fellow who was proud to show off his wines. Our regular little waiter was a very serious and more organised version of Manuel from Fawlty Towers. He was attentive, precise and helpful, but we couldn't get him to crack a smile.
Trier was much prettier than we had expected with some gorgeous medieval and renaissance buildings in the main square. It is also a significant Roman site with various buildings and baths and the enormous edifice of the Porta Nigra ( a massive stone gateway and fort -- the largest the Romans ever built, 2nd century) dominating the entrance to the city.
Porta Nigra (Roman C 2nd century)
We waited some time for a wedding ceremony to finish before visiting the Palatinate Hall, a massive brick building that is now a Protestant church but was once the throne hall of the Roman emperor. Inside its huge austere interior we were very surprised that it was the chosen venue of the bridal couple and their handful of guests. There were twenty times the number waiting to visit the place than were actually attending the wedding.
Trier centre. Old building now housing a coffee shop.
We had quite a bit of rain today and it was rather cold when we were wet and the wind blew. In spite of this the town was packed with people, many local shoppers and university students. One young man approached us in the street -- he was collecting for a local charity, but was fascinated to learn that we were from Australia. "Why are you in Germany?', he asked as if the very idea was astonishing. Barry's reply: 'We got lost!" The young man had sufficient English to laugh.
Trier cathedral
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