You are standing right on Plac Porta Nigra, one of Trier's key communication hubs, in the shadow of the famous ancient gate. Imagine the hustle and bustle of bygone eras, when, already in Roman times, this area, especially today's Simeonstraße, was vibrant as a bustling market.
Today, this spot connects five streets: Nordallee, Theodor-Heuss-Allee, Christophstraße, Simeonstraße, and Paulinstraße. However, the square itself does not include the space directly in front of or behind Porta Nigra - these parts have been transformed into peaceful pedestrian zones and named Porta-Nigra-Vorplatz.
Looking around, you can see on one side the historic facades of the Simeonstift museum and the 'Zum Christophel' house. On the other side stands a modern Mercure hotel complex. However, it wasn't always like this. As early as 1898, a majestic historicist-style hotel was erected there, known for its opulence and… running hot water in the bathrooms - quite a luxury in those years! Unfortunately, the building fell into disrepair and was demolished in the 1960s. A new structure was built in 1968 and today houses not only a hotel but also a casino - Spielbank Trier. From the beginning, the casino was surrounded by rumors and controversies, and even prosecutorial investigations, but nothing was ever proven.
In the center of all this, there was formerly an underground pedestrian passage, later converted into a bicycle storage facility, and today it is closed and awaiting modernization. It's also worth knowing that during Nazi times, the square was named Adolf-Hitler-Platz, and Hitler himself was an honorary citizen of the city until this title was symbolically revoked due to his crimes.
Plac Porta Nigra is more than just a point on the map - it is a witness to the city's turbulent history, changing landscapes, and the triumph and downfall of human ambitions.
