St. Peter's Cathedral (Dom)
St. Peter's Cathedral (Dom)
4.5
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This 11th-century cathedral holds the tombs of several archbishops and displays an impressive collection of religious relics.
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
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4.5
1,783 reviews
Excellent
1,183
Very good
523
Average
68
Poor
6
Terrible
3
Katrien S
Ghent, Belgium1,982 contributions
Jul 2020
The front facade in the dom is in Romanesque style, however, since then the church has been expanded in about every style that passed by. This can be very well seen from the cloisters, which gives a great view if this church and the attached our Lady church. The interior of the church is rather sparsely decorated, however, there is a great organ, a great barok chapel ceiling, the relic to be viewed as well as a mysterious man carved out near one of the pillars.
Written July 12, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
joe s
Warwick, NY1,816 contributions
Dec 2019
The rear of the Cathedral that contains the cemetery is the most beautiful part. Make sure you see it in daylight. Visiting the interior through the from the front entrance after dark when the outside is lit up and the interior is cat in shadows provides the right atmosphere for exploration of this Medieval edifice. I don't know if they have guided tours but if they do it should be interesting as I had many unanswered questions, The interior has many beautiful statues, domes, and carvings. This is a must addition to your Trier Itinerary.
Written February 2, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
NikaNumber1
Royal Oak, MI6,513 contributions
Feb 2020 • Friends
Some of my favorite Dom or cathedrals are in Germany. This one is smaller but just as nice, especially inside.
There were some extremely talented artisans that were commissioned to work on the interiors of these cathedrals. I like the contrast of deep blue and stark whites on the domed ceilings of the alter area. The cherubic characters give the church a bit of softness and warmth.
The carved detail of marble of the angelic characters are quite impressive. It’s an all around stunning interior.
There were some extremely talented artisans that were commissioned to work on the interiors of these cathedrals. I like the contrast of deep blue and stark whites on the domed ceilings of the alter area. The cherubic characters give the church a bit of softness and warmth.
The carved detail of marble of the angelic characters are quite impressive. It’s an all around stunning interior.
Written February 15, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Wiseolly
Llandudno, UK282 contributions
Dec 2019
Free entry to enclave of cathedral and religious buildings in small area. Remerkable organ loft decorations and crypt with graves of clerics. Stepping into many levels of history and with the church next door. The cloisters wonderful and the skyline of roofs show a dome in local slate and talented artwork inside and out. These are architectural gems.
Written January 8, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
graeme A
kuala lumpur281 contributions
Jan 2020
This is a large Dom and you certainly learn some historical information walking around. The individual chapels as always are extremely interesting in their history. The altar is another extremely beautiful altar. Don't forget to go through the side door to the outside chapel and gardens. Extremely informative but please keep young children quiet.
Written February 18, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
OceanShark
Haarlem, The Netherlands3,714 contributions
Oct 2021 • Couples
Very nice Cathedral and worth a visit. Free entrance.
Great place of history. Walking tour 10-15 minutes.
Bring your camera with you.
Great place of history. Walking tour 10-15 minutes.
Bring your camera with you.
Written October 10, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Gradiva
Boston1,039 contributions
May 2012 • Couples
We started our promenade dans Trier from the city’s most famous sight and the most important Roman relic on the German soil - Porta Nigra, which was the northern entrance to the walled Roman town Augusta Treverorum. Porta Nigra dates to the 2nd century and occupies a magnificent sight. Already very impressed, we proceeded along the showy Simeonstrasse to the Hauptmarkt, an astonishingly ornate market square, mounted by elegant edifices and pleasantly enlivened by the idle joyful crowds.
From there one could already glimpse the tower of the Dom, but nothing can compare to its sudden apparition when it literally explodes its grandeur on the amazed traveler once she steps into the cathedral square Domfreihof from a relatively narrow street Sternstrasse, connecting the Hauptmarkt with Domfreihof.
The indescribably impressive building forces itself more as a fortress than a church, with its character decisively Nordic rather than Roman. It is interesting to ponder over the fact that Porta Nigra is less than two hundred years older than the Dom, which was started in the 4th century AD under the patronage of Saint Helen, the Emperor Constantine’s mother.
One can contemplate on the memories of the Basilica of Maxentius in Rome which was built only some fifty years earlier, and recall the splendid frescoes by Piero della Francesca devoted to the Emperor Constantine and his mother in the frescoes cycle "The Legend of the True Cross" in Arezzo.
The Trierer Dom is another celebration of the Constantine conversion of the Empire to Christianity, with the Dom being the oldest Christian church in Germany, four centuries older than the Charlemagne Basilica in the nearby Aachen.
The façade is the most impressive and it evidences the different stages in the construction, from Romanesque through Gothic to the Baroque. Inside, the decoration is principally Baroque. A traveler who is used to the Italian opulence of a church interior would be struck by the somber and severe walls and ceiling surfaces, with the emphasis on the architectural rather than decorative impact.
The adjacent Liebfrauenkirche provides a more lightweight and refreshing experience, with its slender varicolored elegance.
The whole complex of the Dom and Liebfrauenkirche is a unique spiritual voyage into the divine beauty of the human flesh and spirit that are capable of erecting wonders like these. German people must be proud that they can trace the origins of such a splendid building to the Roman Emperor Constantine, linking forever in history Germany and Ancient Rome.
A must-see.
From there one could already glimpse the tower of the Dom, but nothing can compare to its sudden apparition when it literally explodes its grandeur on the amazed traveler once she steps into the cathedral square Domfreihof from a relatively narrow street Sternstrasse, connecting the Hauptmarkt with Domfreihof.
The indescribably impressive building forces itself more as a fortress than a church, with its character decisively Nordic rather than Roman. It is interesting to ponder over the fact that Porta Nigra is less than two hundred years older than the Dom, which was started in the 4th century AD under the patronage of Saint Helen, the Emperor Constantine’s mother.
One can contemplate on the memories of the Basilica of Maxentius in Rome which was built only some fifty years earlier, and recall the splendid frescoes by Piero della Francesca devoted to the Emperor Constantine and his mother in the frescoes cycle "The Legend of the True Cross" in Arezzo.
The Trierer Dom is another celebration of the Constantine conversion of the Empire to Christianity, with the Dom being the oldest Christian church in Germany, four centuries older than the Charlemagne Basilica in the nearby Aachen.
The façade is the most impressive and it evidences the different stages in the construction, from Romanesque through Gothic to the Baroque. Inside, the decoration is principally Baroque. A traveler who is used to the Italian opulence of a church interior would be struck by the somber and severe walls and ceiling surfaces, with the emphasis on the architectural rather than decorative impact.
The adjacent Liebfrauenkirche provides a more lightweight and refreshing experience, with its slender varicolored elegance.
The whole complex of the Dom and Liebfrauenkirche is a unique spiritual voyage into the divine beauty of the human flesh and spirit that are capable of erecting wonders like these. German people must be proud that they can trace the origins of such a splendid building to the Roman Emperor Constantine, linking forever in history Germany and Ancient Rome.
A must-see.
Written December 26, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
LadyDiY
Illinois USA130 contributions
Oct 2014 • Family
We weren't expecting what we found inside the Trier Dom. The architecture, the statuary, and the special relic displayed at the top of the stairs. The view of the interior from that vantage point was so impressive. I especially loved the crypt with the St. Helena chapel and burial sites of bishops from the past. My husband like the statue of death summoning the rich man from his comfy bed. So much to see, well worth a visit.
Written December 4, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Jackie6202015
Palatine, IL106 contributions
Aug 2018
This is a beautiful cathedral to say the least. As cathedrals are in Europe, it’s architecture is stunning and it’s a true work of art. St. Peter’s is most famous for the supposed relic that it is the keeper of, that being the clothing that Jesus Christ wore before he was crucified, which the Romans removed from him and cast lots for, to see who would get to keep the clothes. Now I’m pretty skeptical about these things, are they REALLY the clothes Jesus was wearing? I don’t know, but I was intrigued. However I was deeply disappointed that you don’t actually get to SEE the clothing! Only photographs. The clothes are kept in a crypt like area in the front of the cathedral that you may approach, but you can’t actually see anything. I was severely disappointed. Perhaps this is standard at such places, but still, I was hoping to see it! However, the rest of my experience was excellent. It’s cool to see the burials of former religious heads underneath the Cathedral, and I especially liked the courtyard behind it. Very beautiful, worth the visit. You only need about 30 minutes to an hour here.
Written January 31, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
LarsDane
Horsens, Denmark522 contributions
Oct 2016 • Family
The High Cathedral of Saint Peter in Trier is the oldest cathedral in the country. The Church is notable for its extremely long life span under many different eras, which each contributed to some elements to its design, resulting in a cathedral added onto gradually rather than rebuilt in different eras, thus leaving older designs in lieu of tearing them down.
The cathedral was initiated by bishop Maximin of Trier in the beginning of the 4th century AD, originally its ground-plan was four times larger than now, as it was more or less four churches build into one. It was destroyed by the Franks and the Normans; each time being rebuild.
In WWII the cathedral suffered extensive damage due to allied bombing, and its reconstruction took place until the late 1950's where lowering of the ground water level and shifting in the foundation made it apparent, that the statics of the building needed re-enforcement to a high degree. This work took place until 1974 - taking great care of not disturbing the original building elements with modern steel constructions - where the church was opened again to the public.
In Trier Dom there are stored two important relics; the most important is The Holy Robe, which is the seamless garment said to be worn by Christ during the Crucifixion, the other is a a holy nail, used at the Crucifixion.
The church is a mixture of many eras, some fairly well preserved (or rebuild), others are bare and neutral.
My personal favourites are the Baroque stucco works in the west choir; the beautiful and complex inlaid woodworks in the same, and the disturbingly lifelike stature of the sanctified nun Blandine Merten. In the east end the high altar is wonderful, with a special light from the room behind.
Absolutely worth while a visit.
The cathedral was initiated by bishop Maximin of Trier in the beginning of the 4th century AD, originally its ground-plan was four times larger than now, as it was more or less four churches build into one. It was destroyed by the Franks and the Normans; each time being rebuild.
In WWII the cathedral suffered extensive damage due to allied bombing, and its reconstruction took place until the late 1950's where lowering of the ground water level and shifting in the foundation made it apparent, that the statics of the building needed re-enforcement to a high degree. This work took place until 1974 - taking great care of not disturbing the original building elements with modern steel constructions - where the church was opened again to the public.
In Trier Dom there are stored two important relics; the most important is The Holy Robe, which is the seamless garment said to be worn by Christ during the Crucifixion, the other is a a holy nail, used at the Crucifixion.
The church is a mixture of many eras, some fairly well preserved (or rebuild), others are bare and neutral.
My personal favourites are the Baroque stucco works in the west choir; the beautiful and complex inlaid woodworks in the same, and the disturbingly lifelike stature of the sanctified nun Blandine Merten. In the east end the high altar is wonderful, with a special light from the room behind.
Absolutely worth while a visit.
Written December 25, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
lescuredp
Tours, France
Y a-t-il des visites en français ?
Jean-Pierre M
Wihr-au-Val, France614 contributions
Oui.La France reste omniprésente dans ce secteur presque frontalier
MarcoYoussef
Egypt
I wanted to ask if I am able or not to watch out the clothes of Jesus Christ..are they still available for people to visit..?
Wilma F
Enschede, The Netherlands1,625 contributions
Dear Marco,
The holy Rok is present in the Cathedral of Trier, but is only a view times a year shown to the people in a holy mess. So please if you want to see the Rok or Tunica contact the Tourist Information or the Dom information center about the dates that it is shown. Ask them also some more about visiting the mess as it is always very busy as many people cone to Trier to see this relic at these times.
St. Peter's Cathedral (Dom), Trier
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