Porta Nigra (Black Gate) is the hallmark of the West German city of Trier. This is one of the most ancient cities in Germany, it is more than 2 thousand years old. Along with several other monuments of architecture in Trier, Porta Nigra are on the list of sites protected by UNESCO.
The Black Gate got its name in the Middle Ages because of the color of the stone from which they were built. The sandstone, initially light, darkened over time.
Although Porta Nigra is located in Germany, it was built by the ancient Romans. At the time of the construction of the gate (180 AD), these lands belonged to the Roman Empire. It is believed that the city of Trier was founded at the beginning of our era by the emperor Augustus and was originally called Augusta Treverorum, the second name is Northern Rome.
History of the Black Gate
The gate was built as a city gate and for customs inspection. They were part of the city walls, the length of which was 6.4 km, and the height was 6 m. No cement was used in the construction of the gate. Roman craftsmen sawed out large square blocks from light sandstone, some of which weighed 6 tons. The work used bronze saws, driven by a mill wheel.
Then the stone slabs were lifted up with the help of wooden winches, connected with iron brackets and welded with liquid tin. Tourists can see holes and traces of rust in the gate masonry. In the old days, when metal was in short supply, the inhabitants of Trier pulled out iron staples from the stones.
It is believed that the gate itself was preserved thanks to Simeon of Syracuse (Tvirsky). This Greek hermit in 1030 ordered himself to be immured alive in one of the gate towers, where he died 5 years later. Simeon of Tvir was soon canonized.
After some time, at the place where the hermit served his voluntary imprisonment, the church of St. Simeon. A monastery was founded nearby. The church and monastery existed until 1804. Emperor Napoleon ordered to destroy them after the capture of Trier by his troops.
Excursions to Porta Nigra
Currently Porta Nigra is open to tourists. The gate image is used in logos, postage stamps, and club emblems. Although the sandstone has darkened with time and winds, the Black Gate is imposing. Their width is 36 m, and their height is 29.3 m. Despite its venerable age, the historical landmark has been well preserved and is constantly being restored.
The gate is located in the pedestrian zone. The passage of cars through them is closed due to the harmful effects of exhaust gases on the sandstone. For tourists who have mastered four floors of the building and climbed to the very top, picturesque views open up. There is a museum and a small gift shop on the rooftop.
Once in Germany, you should definitely see the Black Gate - a perfectly preserved structure, the largest antique gate in the world.
