2000 Years of Worship

This is Xanten, the twin spires are of the modern Cathedral, and the Pseudo ruins of the Roman Temple. This has been reconstucted on the Site of the original, indeed the Foundations are there to see, just 3 metres under the present ground level. To which God the Temple was built is unknown. The building between is one of the Turrets of the Town wall. The town was built in the first century AD on the Orders of the Emperor, Trajan. It was the 3rd most important Town in the Province. Originally it was built on an arm of the Rhine, long since silted up, but was an important Trading Post.The modern roads to Kalkar, Geldern and Venlo follow the route of the old Roman roads and are arrow straight. Building stone for the houses and walls was quarried up river at Cologne (Köln)and Koblenze and floated down on barges, which were broken up and the wood used for building. Water for the Town came not from the Rhein but from fresh springs more than 16 kms away, over an Aqueduct, traces of which can be seen today.The Legions were in Barracks at Birton, about 3 kms away.
When The Romans pulled back in 480 AD the river was nearly gone, and the town only survived another 80 years or so. The "New " City was built a short distance away, leaving half of the Roman ruins accesable.
The path in the Foreground is the now completed Cycle Path, so BG and Gov can do a proper Tour next time , without moving fences !