The  Mabkbt  lies  nearly  in  the  centre  of  the  town.  The  'Rothes
Haus'  Hotel  (PI.  b;  F,  3),  situated  here,  a  late-Gothic  building  of
the  15th  cent. ,  was  formerly  the  Rathhaus,  and  bears  the  inscription  :
'Ante  Romam  Treviris  stetit  annis  MCCC',  referring  to  a  media  val
tradition  that  Treves  was  founded  by  Trebeta,  son  of  the  Assyrian
monarch  Ninus.  An  ancient  Column  in  the  Platz,  supposed  to  date
from  958,  was  renewed  in  1723,  and  is  surmounted  with  a  cross
with  the  Lamb  of  God.  The  St.  Peter sbrunnen,  a  beautiful  Renais-
sance fountain,  was  erected  by  Elector  John  of  Schonberg  in  1595.
The  Simeons- Strasse,  leading  out  of  the  market-place  towards  the
N.,  terminates  in  the  *Porta  Nigra  (PI.  21;  F,  1),  also  named  Porta
Martis,  Romerthor,  or  Simeonsihor,  a. gate  with  towers  of  defence,
and  the  finest  of  the  Roman  structures  at  Treves.  This  magnificent
relic  is  115  ft.  long ,  75-93  ft.  high,  and  29  ft.  in  depth.  It  con-
sists of  three  stories ,  with  two  gateways ,  23  ft.  in  height ,  and  is


Cathedral.  TREVES.  24.  Route.     163

constructed  of  huge  blocks  of  lias  sandstone,  blackened  with  age  and
fastened  with  iron  or  copper  braces  instead  of  mortar.  Opinions
vary  as  to  its  age ,  but  the  fact  of  its  never  having  been  finished
seems  to  point  to  an  origin  during  the  last  years  of  the  Roman  em-
pire. The  interior  is  open  to  the  public  daily  in  summer  from  9  to
11  (entrance  on  the  W.  side).
