Not only is Trier a Roman city, it is also the oldest city in Germany, then a purely civilian city 80 miles (120 kilometers) from the Rhine and the Germanic tribes. It began around a wooden bridge from 18/17 B.C. at the site of a ford used by the Celtic Treveri and soon occupied the wide valley with an extensive grid pattern of streets on the site of sporadic Celtic settlements. Because it had been founded under Caesar Augustus in the area of the Treveri, it was called Augusta Treverorum an later shortened to Treveri.
This book introduces Trier's unusual history as Roman imperial city and seat of an Electoral Prince. It also describes the most important structures, eight of which are on the Unesco World Heritage list, the museums, and the events in a merrymaking city. Map included.