Trier Cathedral

At least 270 AD marks the beginning of the Christian era at the location of Trier Cathedral, when worshipers congregated in what was likely the first church to have ever stood there—a house church. You can visit this UNESCO World Heritage Site today, a historical monument.

The continuing persecution of Christians started to lessen in the fourth century. The ability to worship more publicly was made possible by the expansion of religious freedom. Thus, starting in 340 AD, a structure known as "The Square" was built on the site of Trier Cathedral. The exterior walls of this building, which are now a part of Trier Cathedral, are some of the remnants still visible today.

The church itself contains few traces of the ancient Ancient Roman church today, although vast underground excavations can be seen as part of a guided tour (book in advance on the official site).

Along with these subterranean remnants, the main building still contains a portion of the old Roman walls, which rise to a height of over 30 meters. The remainder of Trier Cathedral, which looks more like a fortification than a place of worship and contains a few more obvious Roman components and columns, beautifully retains the medieval heritage of this location.

Location: Trier, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany