Steipe and Red Houses, Trier

The Steipe and Red Houses in Trier’s Main Market Square are architectural icons that showcase the city’s resilience and rich historical identity. The Steipe House, built in 1483, served as a venue for hosting dignitaries and city council members, reflecting Trier’s power and pride. The building’s name, "Steipe," comes from its distinctive arcade supports, adorned with sculptures of saints. Today, these statues are replicas, with the originals preserved at the City Museum Simeonstift. Damaged heavily during World War II, the Steipe was rebuilt in the 1970s in the original Late-Gothic style, a project funded entirely by the people of Trier, who raised 105,200 Marks in just six months. The faithful reconstruction reflects not only architectural heritage but also civic pride, reinforced by its grand merlons and symbolic knight statues—one knight eyeing the marketplace and the other gazing intently at the cathedral, hand on his sword.

Nearby, the Red House tells its tale of Trier’s storied past. Built in 1684 as the residence of Johann Wilhelm Polch, the cathedral secretary, it bears an inscription that proclaims Trier’s founding 1300 years before the Romans—a legend dating back to the Trier Episcopal Chronicle. While few in the 17th century took this seriously, the inscription served as a comforting affirmation of Trier’s ancient roots during a period marked by conflict and population decline. Today, the Red House, adorned with a statue of Saint Anthony, is home to a charming cafe where visitors can savor the layered history and local pride embedded in this historic corner of Trier.