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Archaeological site · Trier, Renânia-Palatinado
Kaiserthermen
Imperial baths begun around the year 300 and never completed as bathing facilities. They became a Roman barracks and, in the Middle Ages, part of the city wall. The underground service galleries can be explored on foot.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
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About Kaiserthermen
The Kaiserthermen, imperial baths, began to be built before the year 300 under Caesar Constantius Chlorus and his son Constantine. They were intended to be one of the largest bathing complexes in the Roman world, but construction stopped around 316 and the interior facilities were never completed.
After Trier ceased to be an imperial residence, the building was turned into a cavalry barracks. In the Middle Ages the ruin was incorporated into the city wall as a bastion, with a gate, and the courtyard received a church and a monastery. Much stone was removed for other works.
The highlight of the visit is the underground service galleries, through which workers had to tend the furnaces without disturbing the bathers. The corridors can be walked, with sections lit by openings in the roof. Above ground, the wall of the caldarium, the hot room, with its brick arches, is the best-known stretch.
A small visitor building has an exhibition and a video about the baths. The Kaiserthermen are part of the UNESCO World Heritage in Trier, and the caldarium hosts open-air performances in summer.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
About 45 minutes to 1 hour, including the underground galleries.
Best time
In the morning or late afternoon on hot days, because the outside area has little shade; the galleries are cool year-round.
How to get there
It's at the end of the Palastgarten, about a 5-minute walk from the Konstantinbasilika and 10 minutes from the Hauptmarkt.
Tip
Bring a light jacket for the underground galleries, which are cooler than the street, and wear sturdy footwear for the uneven floor. Ask about a combined ticket with other Roman monuments.
Official website
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Kaiserthermen
Did the Kaiserthermen function as baths?
Not really. Construction stopped around 316 before the internal facilities were completed, and the building became a barracks.
Can you go into the underground galleries?
Yes. The service galleries beneath the baths are the highlight of the visit.
How to go from the Konstantinbasilika to the Kaiserthermen?
On foot, crossing the Palastgarten, in about 5 minutes.