Roman Bridge (UNESCO World Heritage)

We of course can’t know whether you’re planning to establish a city any time soon. But if you are, take an expert tip from the Romans: Look for a nice location by the river and start by building a bridge! Granted, it’s not exactly the easiest of construction projects. But it gives you instant access to the streets both sides of the river, which acts as the perfect trading route. There is also a good chance that generation after generation will continue to use your bridge, thereby turning it into a monument in your honour. After all, that’s what happened with the Roman Bridge. Its basalt pylons date back to the mid-2nd century, making it the oldest bridge in Germany.

Admittedly, even the Romans in Trier started out by experimenting a bit. Two wooden bridges which previously stood at this site, the oldest of which ties in directly with the city’s founding in 17 BC, started being replaced by today’s stone pylons in the year 144. But its success story is unparalleled: To this day, the Roman Bridge remains one of the city’s central hubs, with thousands of cars, cyclists and pedestrians crossing the river here – just as millions of other people have done over the last 1900 years. In Roman times, they would often throw a coin into the river as an offering to the goddess Mosella who lived there. Even today, experts believe a good million coins could be lying hidden in the riverbed. And while it’s no longer possible to go diving for them, you could set different rules when you establish your own city.