Trier, Bridge

Q284125

Augusta Treverorum: important Roman city, modern Trier.

Bridge from the southeast

Trier rose to prominence when the Roman general Agrippa built the road from Lyon to Cologne, and a bridge had to be constructed near the place where the Saar empties itself into the Moselle. There is a dendrochonological date of 17 BCE for one of the pieces of wood of the bridge. The monument was rebuilt several times. There is dendrochronological evidence for 71, 144, and 157, but there must have been more repairs.

The Roman bridge is still in use. A couple of things have changed, however. Today, the bridge has six arches, but we know that there must have been at least one arch more in the west, and three in the east, bringing the grand total up to ten. The superstructure, now made of stone, was once made of wood.

As some of the photos below show, immediately below the modern arches of brick, are ledges. Nowadays, they are empty decorations, but once, they supported the wooden arches of the superstucture.