The Palace of the Electors of Trier is located in the center of the Roman city, near the Basilica of Constantine and the Imperial baths. In the Middle Ages, it was a large-scale complex of buildings in the Baroque style, but a rebuilt version of the Rococo style has survived to this day.
The Electorate of Trier was an ecclesiastical Principality of the Holy Roman Empire from the 10th to the 19th century. It was governed by an Archbishop, who was also an Elector. The capital of the electorate was the city of Trier, but the main residence of the elector was from 1629 in the castle of Philipsburg in Ehrenbreitstein near Koblenz, and from 1786 in The elector`s Palace in Koblenz itself.
The Elector`s Palace in Trier began to be built in 1599, but then the pace of construction slowed, as the main residence of the elector was moved to another location. As a result, its construction was completed only a century later.
The site of the Palace was occupied by the ancient Roman Basilica of Constantine, which was partially demolished, and its Northern and Western walls were integrated into the elector`s Palace. Initially, the Palace was built in the Renaissance style, but the walls of the Basilica were built in a massive Romanesque style.
The entire Palace complex was completed in 1660 under elector Karl Kaspar von der Leyen. In the mid-18th century, the southern wing of the Elector`s Palace was rebuilt by the architect Johann Seitz, who was a pupil of the famous German architect Balthazar Neumann. So there was a wonderful facade of the Palace in the Rococo style, which is now seen by all tourists. It is open to the public and also hosts classical music concerts. In front of the Palace of the Elector of Trier, there is a large Park area.
