Germany
Trier, founded by the Romans in 16 BC, hosts a Christmas market on its medieval Hauptmarkt beside a UNESCO Romanesque cathedral.
Famous for
Germany's oldest city — Roman ruins, a UNESCO cathedral, and a 1,700-year Christmas tradition.
Trier is Germany's oldest city — founded by the Romans in 16 BC and the seat of Constantine's western empire. Its Christmas market fills the medieval Hauptmarkt, framed by the 4th-century Porta Nigra (the largest Roman gate north of the Alps) and the UNESCO-listed Cathedral of Saint Peter, which claims to be the oldest church in Germany. The market is one of the oldest in the Moselle valley, with a 1,700-year Christian tradition behind it. Trier is the upstream terminus of many Moselle sailings.
Dates: Late Nov – Dec 23
Vibe: Ancient and grand — Roman ruins meet a 1,700-year Christian tradition.
Local tip
The Cathedral's relic of the Holy Robe (Christ's tunic) is displayed only rarely — but the church itself is always worth a visit.
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