Porta Nigra, Trier
Porta Nigra is the oldest defensive structure in Germany erected in the 2nd century AD when the newly conquered Roman city was surrounded by walls. The Porta Nigra is the only one of the four gates that still stands in Trier. The others were pillaged for their stone and iron. It survived because it was used as a humble residence of a hermit monk called Simeon for 7 years and in the 12th century the structure was made into a church - St Simeon). Napoleon destroyed the church in 1803 but the 12th century apse survived. The entire structure is made without mortar and the sandstone blocks are connected by iron rods. It is called Porta Nigra because of it's weathered bricks.
Porta Nigra, Trier
Porta Nigra is the oldest defensive structure in Germany erected in the 2nd century AD when the newly conquered Roman city was surrounded by walls. The Porta Nigra is the only one of the four gates that still stands in Trier. The others were pillaged for their stone and iron. It survived because it was used as a humble residence of a hermit monk called Simeon for 7 years and in the 12th century the structure was made into a church - St Simeon). Napoleon destroyed the church in 1803 but the 12th century apse survived. The entire structure is made without mortar and the sandstone blocks are connected by iron rods. It is called Porta Nigra because of it's weathered bricks.