Thermen am Viehmarkt (Forum Baths), Trier

The Forum Baths in Trier offer a fascinating glimpse into Roman life through a blend of ancient ruins and modern design. Discovered in 1987 during the construction of an underground car park, this thermal bath complex, dating from around 80 CE, marks Trier's first thermal baths, even predating the city’s other famous baths, the Barbarathermen and Kaiserthermen. Named after the cattle market (Viehmarkt) under which they were found, the baths were strategically designed, with warm and cold baths placed to align with sun and shade, reflecting the Romans’ architectural expertise.

Covering 8,364 square meters, the baths reached peak usage in the 3rd and 4th centuries. Following the decline of the Roman Empire, the baths fell into disrepair and were gradually forgotten, even serving as a quarry in the 13th century. Later, in the 17th and 18th centuries, the Capuchin Order built monastery buildings over parts of the ruins, and the area evolved into a cattle market by 1811.

To protect the ruins, architect Oswald Mathias Ungers designed a distinctive glass enclosure, known locally as the "Ungers showcase." The cuboid structure combines glass facades and metal stairwells, giving the impression of an elevated platform, with stone patterns tracing the Roman road network. Though Ungers’ design has sparked controversy for its impact on the ancient structures, it preserves the baths while offering a visually compelling, immersive experience.

Today, the Forum Baths are open to visitors and regularly host events, including the popular annual wine tasting organized by the Rhineland-Palatinate Chamber of Agriculture. Not included in the UNESCO World Heritage listing of Trier’s Roman monuments, the baths remain a lively historical site that invites debate on whether heritage status should be sought—an addition that could potentially limit the modern events now held here.