Trier Amphitheatre

Where grass now grows over the terraces, up to 18,000 people once cheered in Roman Trier. The Trier Amphitheatre at the foot of the Petrisberg hill was built in the second half of the 2nd century AD and staged gladiator fights, animal hunts and executions. The highlight is not just the seating: you can climb down into the cellar beneath the arena, from which animals and fighters were once lifted into the ring. Since 1986 the arena has been part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site “Roman Monuments, Cathedral of St Peter and Church of Our Lady in Trier”.

History: arena and city gate

For the amphitheatre of Augusta Treverorum, Roman Trier, the builders chose the slope of the Petrisberg, so that only one half of the seating had to be built up with earth, while the other rests against the hill. It also had an unusual second job: the amphitheatre was part of the city wall and served as the eastern city gate.

Local dignitaries, imperial officials and, in late antiquity, emperors in person offered the public “bread and circuses” here. The arena was also used for assemblies and public announcements. It remained in use until the end of the Western Roman Empire in the 5th century. In the Middle Ages, like many Roman buildings in Trier, it served as a quarry, and vines were later planted on its slopes.

What to see

• The arena: The oval ring is enclosed by a protective parapet wall about 4 m high. From the terraces you get a good sense of the whole structure.
• The arena cellar: Excavated around 1908, it once held stage machinery, a kind of lift that made performers and animals appear suddenly in the middle of the arena. Because of this cellar, the arena could never be flooded.
• The cages: At the edge of the arena you can still see the chambers where people and animals waited for their entrance.
• North and south gates: The vaulted passages lead through the earth banks into the arena and make a good photo spot.

Good to know

Until the 19th century the people of Trier simply called the ruin the “Kaskeller”, and that is how it appeared on city maps. The name probably came from the underground rooms being used as storage cellars, and it disappeared once excavations began in the 19th century. Until 2012 the arena hosted the “Brot & Spiele” festival every August; today only occasional concerts and other events take place.

Visiting and timing

45 minutes to an hour is enough for the arena, terraces and cellar. It comes alive on the themed tour, where an actor playing the gladiator Valerius tells his story and leads you through the cellars and channels below the arena. The amphitheatre is about a kilometre east of the city centre, just beyond the Imperial Baths, and the two are easy to combine on foot.

The entrance and arena are step-free; the cellar and terraces are reached by steps. The ground is gravel, cobblestones and sand.

Tickets and opening hours (as of October 2026)

• April to September: daily 09:00–18:00
• March and October: daily 09:00–17:00
• November to February: daily 09:00–16:00
• Last entry 30 minutes before closing
• Admission: adults €6, reduced €5, children and teenagers aged 6 to 17 €3, under 6 free
• Family ticket: €6 with one adult, €12 with two adults, each with up to four children

Admission is included in the Antikencard, which combines several Roman sites in Trier such as the Porta Nigra and the Imperial Baths. The gladiator tour runs on set dates, so check them online before you go.