Porta Nigra

The Porta Nigra in Trier is a massive Roman city gate begun in 170 AD and the symbol of what is often called Germany's oldest city. Built from huge sandstone blocks and darkened by centuries of weathering, the "Black Gate" survived because a medieval hermit made it his home and it was turned into a church. Since 1986 it has been part of the Trier UNESCO World Heritage Site, and it is one of the most impressive Roman monuments you can visit anywhere north of the Alps.

A short history of the Black Gate

When Rome built this gate as the northern entrance to Augusta Treverorum, Trier was one of the empire's great cities; in late antiquity it even served as an imperial residence. Tree-ring dating of timber from the city wall finally fixed the start of construction at 170 AD. The gate was never actually finished: many stones were left rough. Around 7,200 blocks, some weighing up to six tons, were held together with iron clamps. The holes you see in the facade were left by medieval thieves who chiseled out the metal.

In the 11th century a Byzantine monk from Sicily named Simeon had himself shut inside the gate as a hermit. After his death and canonization, the archbishop converted the building into a two-story church, which saved it from being quarried for stone. In 1804 Napoleon ordered the church additions removed, and by 1817 the Roman gate stood free again. Only part of the medieval apse remains on the east side.

What to see

• The city-side facade on Porta-Nigra-Platz, with its two arched passages and the taller west tower.
• The interior, where stairs lead up through several floors that still show traces of the church period.
• Views from the upper windows over Simeonstrasse and the old town.
• Stadtmuseum Simeonstift, the city museum in the former monastery buildings right next door.

Parts of the gate are currently under scaffolding for restoration, but it remains open to visitors.

Opening hours and tickets

The Porta Nigra is open daily (as of October 2026): 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in March and October, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. from April to September, and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. from November to February. Last entry is 30 minutes before closing.

• Adults: €6, reduced €5
• Ages 6 to 18: €3, under 6 free
• Family tickets: €6 (one adult) or €12 (two adults), each with up to four children

If you plan to see several Roman sites, the AntikenCard Trier combo ticket comes in four versions. A popular option is the costumed tour "The Secret of the Porta Nigra," led by an actor playing a Roman centurion; check dates and languages at the tourist office next to the gate.

How to get to Trier and the Porta Nigra

Trier lies on the Moselle River near the Luxembourg border, in the far west of Germany. Regional trains run along the Moselle from Koblenz, and Luxembourg City is close by, making Trier an easy day trip from there. From Trier Hauptbahnhof (main station), the gate is only a few minutes' walk. The Deutschlandticket is valid on German regional trains and local buses. Drivers should use the signposted parking garages around the pedestrianized old town.

Is the Porta Nigra worth visiting?

Yes. Even from the outside, standing beneath a gate that has watched almost 2,000 years of European history pass by is unforgettable, and the entry fee is modest. Go at 9 a.m. to beat the tour groups, or come back after dark when it is floodlit. Then walk down Simeonstrasse to the Hauptmarkt square, Trier Cathedral and the Church of Our Lady, and continue to the Basilica of Constantine, the Imperial Baths and the amphitheater. Note that the upper floors are reachable only by stairs.