Day 4. We departed from the Rhine Valley and took the longer, scenic route through the Moselle Valley to Trier. Sloping vineyards cradled the river for miles and miles.  The famed wine region was painted in muted winter colors just hinting at its summer beauty. We drove through renowned towns such as Bernkastel-Kues, soaking in the views until we arrived at the oldest city in Germany. 

I wish we had had more time for Trier. I had planned for it to be a few hours’ stop on our way to Luxembourg, but was it was winter, and we didn’t have much daylight left by the time we arrived. Along with the historical center, we visited the Porta Nigra, Liebfrauenkirche, and Konstatin-Basilika, but missed several other famed sites. The Porta Nigra is a nearly 2000-year-old city gate testifying to Trier’s legacy as an ancient Roman city. Ancient as it is, it seems misplaced amid the modern and medieval architecture of Trier.  I was a bit frantic to see a few of the sites while it was still light, but once dusk set in, we slowed our pace, bought some gelato (in spite of the cold) and roamed the fantastic city center before leaving for Luxembourg.