The Catholic Pilgrim's Guide to Trier, Germany

Trier Cathedral houses the Holy Robe of Christ, drawing pilgrims for 500 years to Germany's oldest bishop's church and sanctuary.

Beneath the towers of Germany's oldest cathedral, pilgrims have gathered for nearly two millennia to venerate relics that trace directly to the Passion of Christ and the first apostles. Trier, once the northern capital of the Roman Empire and one of Europe's most powerful episcopal seats, preserves treasures found nowhere else north of the Alps: the Holy Robe, believed to be the seamless garment worn by Christ before the Crucifixion, and the tomb of the Apostle Matthias, the only apostolic burial in Germany. These twin devotions have drawn the faithful since the days of Empress Helena, who according to tradition brought these sacred relics from the Holy Land to her son Constantine's imperial residence. The city unfolds along the Moselle River in a landscape of steep vineyards and forested hills. Its Roman heritage remains strikingly visible—the massive Porta Nigra gate, the imperial baths, the basilica that once served as Constantine's throne room—yet Trier's Catholic identity runs deeper still. The cathedral complex, begun in the fourth century, stands as the oldest bishop's church in Germany, its ancient Roman core still visible within later Romanesque and Baroque additions. Connected by a shared wall and cloister, the Gothic Liebfrauenkirche rises beside it, its rose-shaped floor plan a medieval meditation on the Virgin Mary. To the south, the Benedictine monks of St. Matthias Abbey have kept vigil over the apostle's tomb for nearly nine centuries, welcoming the thousands of walking pilgrims who arrive each year from the Rhineland and Eifel.

📜 History & Spiritual Significance

The Christian story of Trier begins with Saints Eucharius and Valerius, missionaries from Rome who established the first community of believers here in the third century. They found refuge in the home of a widow named Albana, and her house became the gathering place for Trier's earliest Christians. When Eucharius died, Valerius succeeded him as bishop, and both were buried in a cemetery south of the city—the site that would eventually become St. Matthias Abbey. Everything changed when Constantine the Great made Trier his imperial residence in the early fourth century. His mother Helena, a devout Christian who would later be canonized, undertook a pilgrimage to the Holy Land around 327-328. There she discovered numerous relics, including the True Cross. According to tradition, she also acquired the seamless robe mentioned in the Gospel of John—the garment for which the soldiers cast lots at the foot of the Cross rather than tear it apart. Helena sent this precious relic to Trier, where Constantine had ordered the construction of an enormous church complex that dwarfed anything in the western empire. For centuries, the Holy Robe remained hidden within the cathedral's high altar, its existence known only to successive bishops. Then in 1512, Holy Roman Emperor Maximilian I attended an Imperial Diet in Trier and demanded to see the relic. Archbishop Richard von Greiffenklau opened the altar, and when word spread, the people of Trier clamored to venerate the Robe themselves. Thus began the Holy Robe pilgrimages that continue to this day, though now at irregular intervals. The 1844 pilgrimage drew nearly half a million faithful, and the 2012 exposition—marking the 500th anniversary—attracted over 500,000 pilgrims from around the world. Meanwhile, in 1127, workers demolishing an old church at St. Eucharius Abbey made an astonishing discovery: bones identified as those of the Apostle Matthias. According to tradition, Helena had also brought these relics from Jerusalem and divided them between Rome and Trier. The find transformed the abbey into a major pilgrimage center. The Romanesque basilica dedicated in 1148 by Pope Eugene III was renamed for Matthias, though it retained its role as the burial church of Trier's founding bishops. The St. Matthias Brotherhoods, some dating back to medieval times, have organized walking pilgrimages here ever since. Today, approximately 160 pilgrim groups make the journey on foot each year, primarily from the dioceses of Aachen, Cologne, and Trier, walking for four to nine days to reach the only apostle's tomb north of the Alps.

☩ Pilgrimage Sites in Trier

Trier's sacred sites cluster in two locations: the cathedral complex in the heart of the old city, and St. Matthias Abbey to the south. The walk between them takes about twenty minutes through streets lined with Roman and medieval monuments. Both the cathedral and Liebfrauenkirche are designated UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

High Cathedral of St. Peter (Trierer Dom)

Local Name: Hohe Domkirche St. Peter zu Trier Address: Domfreihof 1, 54290 Trier, Germany GPS Coordinates: 49.756345, 6.643134 Google Maps: View on Google Maps Website: dom-information.de Dedication: St. Peter the Apostle Historical Note: Germany's oldest cathedral stands on foundations laid by Emperor Constantine around 310-320 AD. The original church was four times the size of today's building, covering not just the cathedral and Liebfrauenkirche but extending nearly to the modern Hauptmarkt. After destruction by invading tribes, the surviving Roman core was incorporated into an imposing Romanesque structure completed under Archbishop Poppo of Babenberg in the eleventh century. The distinctive westwork with its four towers became a model for churches throughout the Rhine-Meuse region. Baroque additions came in the eighteenth century, including the Chapel of the Holy Robe. Spiritual Importance: The cathedral's supreme treasure is the Holy Robe (Der Heilige Rock), the seamless tunic believed worn by Christ at His Crucifixion. Preserved in a specially built Baroque chapel behind the high altar, the relic normally remains hidden within its reliquary and is displayed only on rare occasions—most recently in 2012. In his message for that pilgrimage, Pope Benedict XVI called it "the undivided gift of the Crucified One to the Church." The cathedral Treasury contains additional relics including a Holy Nail from the Cross, the tenth-century St. Andrew's Altar covered in gold and ivory, and the skull of St. Helena. Pilgrims may light candles and pray in the crypt, which preserves elements of the original Roman structure.

Basilica of Our Lady (Liebfrauenkirche)

Local Name: Liebfrauenkirche / Liebfrauen-Basilika Address: Liebfrauenstraße 2, 54290 Trier, Germany GPS Coordinates: 49.755890, 6.643560 Google Maps: View on Google Maps Dedication: The Blessed Virgin Mary Historical Note: When the southern portion of Constantine's double church fell into ruin, Archbishop Theoderich von Wied commissioned French builders from Champagne to construct a new Gothic church. Built between 1230 and 1260, the Liebfrauenkirche is considered the earliest example of French High Gothic architecture outside France and, along with St. Elisabeth's in Marburg, one of Germany's oldest Gothic churches. Pope Pius XII elevated it to a minor basilica in 1951. Spiritual Importance: The church's unique twelve-petaled rose floor plan honors Mary as the Rosa Mystica, while twelve slender columns representing the apostles support the vaulted ceiling. Standing on the gold star marked on the floor, visitors can see all twelve apostle paintings and peer into each of the eight surrounding chapels. The medieval mystics who designed this space intended it as a "paradise on earth"—a place where the faithful could encounter divine harmony. The carved Madonna and Child in the eastern chapel dates to the mid-fourteenth century and draws particular devotion.

St. Matthias Abbey (Benediktinerabtei St. Matthias)

Local Name: Abtei St. Matthias Address: Matthiasstraße 85, 54290 Trier, Germany GPS Coordinates: 49.738060, 6.631940 Google Maps: View on Google Maps Website: abteistmatthias.de Dedication: St. Matthias the Apostle Historical Note: Benedictine monks have inhabited this site since late antiquity, with the Rule of St. Benedict adopted around 977. The present Romanesque basilica was consecrated on January 13, 1148, by Pope Eugene III himself, following the 1127 discovery of St. Matthias's relics. The abbey endured secularization under Napoleon in 1802 and expulsion during the Nazi period, but monks returned in 1945 and continue their ministry today. The community currently numbers around eleven monks in Trier, joined in congregation with Huysburg Priory in Saxony-Anhalt. Spiritual Importance: This is the only burial place of an apostle north of the Alps. The tomb of St. Matthias—the apostle chosen to replace Judas Iscariot—lies in the crypt, alongside the sarcophagi of Saints Eucharius and Valerius, Trier's founding bishops. In the Chapel of the Cross, pilgrims venerate the golden staurotheca from around 1240, containing fragments of the True Cross. Pilgrim shields from centuries of walking groups adorn the columns near the entrance, testimony to an unbroken tradition. The abbey offers hospitality to guests and pilgrims, and the monks provide spiritual guidance to the approximately 160 pilgrim groups who arrive on foot each year.

🕯️ Annual Feast Days & Celebrations

February 24 (German-speaking regions) / May 14 (universal calendar) – Feast of St. Matthias St. Matthias Abbey. The main pilgrimage season runs from February through Pentecost, when the Matthias Brotherhoods make their traditional walking pilgrimages. Solemn celebrations honor the apostle whose relics have drawn pilgrims for nearly 900 years. Holy Robe Pilgrimages (Irregular) Trier Cathedral. The Holy Robe is displayed only on rare occasions—most recently in 2012 for the 500th anniversary, previously in 1996 and 1959. When announced, these pilgrimages draw hundreds of thousands of faithful from across Europe. The next major exhibition may occur in 2033 for the 2000th anniversary of the Crucifixion.

🛏️ Where to Stay

Robert-Schuman-Haus 📍 Address: Auf der Jüngt 1, 54293 Trier, Germany 🌐 Website: rsh-trier.de Catholic conference and guesthouse operated by the Diocese of Trier, situated on elevated ground overlooking the city. Simple but comfortable rooms with easy access to St. Matthias Abbey. Hotel Deutscher Hof ⭐⭐⭐ 📍 Address: Südallee 25, 54290 Trier, Germany 🌐 Website: hotel-deutscherhof-trier.de 🔗 Booking: Book on Booking.com Traditional hotel near the Porta Nigra with easy walking access to the cathedral complex. Hotel Zur Glocke ⭐⭐⭐ 📍 Address: Glockenstraße 12, 54290 Trier, Germany Charming historic hotel dating to 1567, located in the pedestrianized heart of the Old Town with views of the cathedral. Park Plaza Trier ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 📍 Address: Nikolaus-Koch-Platz 1, 54290 Trier, Germany 🔗 Booking: Book on Booking.com Modern hotel on the edge of the pedestrian zone, featuring a Roman-themed wellness area with sauna and spa facilities.

🚗 Getting There

By Air: Luxembourg Airport (LUX) is the nearest international airport, approximately 50 kilometers away. Frankfurt-Hahn Airport (HHN) is about 100 kilometers distant. Both are connected to Trier by bus services. Frankfurt Main Airport (FRA), a major international hub, is approximately 190 kilometers east with direct train connections. By Train: Trier Hauptbahnhof has direct connections to Koblenz (1.5 hours), Cologne (2.5 hours), Luxembourg City (45 minutes), and Saarbrücken (1 hour). The cathedral complex is a 15-minute walk from the station. By Car: Trier lies at the intersection of the A64 and A602 autobahns, near the Luxembourg and French borders. Parking is available at the Domfreihof parking garage near the cathedral. On Foot: Traditional pilgrimage routes include the Mosel-Camino from Koblenz (156 km following the Moselle River), the Jakobsweg from Cologne through the Eifel mountains, and the Via Sancti Martini from Szombathely, Hungary. Walking pilgrims to St. Matthias typically arrive between Ascension Day and Pentecost.

📚 Further Reading

Books:

  • Becker-Huberti, Manfred, Der Heilige Rock: Das Gewand Christi – Comprehensive history of the Holy Robe and its pilgrimages.
  • Ronig, Franz J., Der Dom zu Trier (Langewiesche) – Authoritative architectural and historical guide to the cathedral.
  • Heyen, Franz-Josef, Die Benediktinerabtei St. Matthias vor Trier – Scholarly history of the abbey and its pilgrimage tradition.

Articles & Online Resources:

🎥 Recommended Videos

🔗 Useful Links

🧭 Nearby Pilgrimage Destinations

  • Echternach, Luxembourg (35 km) – Abbey of St. Willibrord with the apostle of the Low Countries' tomb and famous dancing procession.
  • Prüm (60 km) – Former imperial abbey with the Sandals of Christ relic.
  • Maria Laach Abbey (90 km) – Beautiful Romanesque abbey church on a volcanic lake.
  • Koblenz (120 km) – Starting point of the Mosel-Camino, at the confluence of the Rhine and Moselle.

🥾 Pilgrim Routes

  • Mosel-Camino – Part of the Way of St. James, 156 kilometers from Koblenz along the Moselle River to St. Matthias Abbey.
  • Jakobsweg Köln-Trier – Pilgrimage route from Cologne through the Eifel mountains.
  • Via Sancti Martini – European Cultural Route following St. Martin of Tours from Szombathely (Hungary) through Trier to Tours (France).
  • Matthiaswege – Network of traditional walking routes used by the St. Matthias Brotherhoods from the Rhineland, Eifel, and Lower Rhine regions.

🪶 Closing Reflection

"This garment is the undivided gift of the Crucified One to the Church, which He has sanctified with His blood. For this reason, the Holy Tunic reminds the Church of her dignity."

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— Pope Benedict XVI, Message for the Holy Robe Pilgrimage, April 2012