Perched atop the Markusberg, a silent giant oversees the city. This is the Sender Trier-Markusberg. It is a vital part of Trier’s broadcasting history.
The Sender Trier-Markusberg began its journey in 1958. Before finding its home here, the Mittelwellensender Trier had a different location. Initially, it was on the Petrisberg. In 1958, it was moved to the Markusberg. It remained in operation here until 1974.
Before its life on the Petrisberg and Markusberg, the Mittelwellensender Trier had humbler beginnings. In 1932, it was brought to life. Its first location was in Trier-Nord, specifically in the Ruwerer Straße. Today, this street is known as Herzogenbuscher Straße.
From 1933 to 1935, the original Sendeantenne was a sight to behold. It was a vertical Reusenantenne. This antenna hung from a hemp rope stretched between two wooden towers. These towers stood 63 meters tall. They were spaced 120 meters apart. Imagine that delicate structure carrying the city’s broadcasts.
The year 1935 marked a significant upgrade for the Sender Trier. The Reusenantenne was replaced. A 107-meter-high Holzturm took its place. Inside this tower, a Drahtantenne hummed with activity.
Did you know that Trier once had its own Rundfunkstudio? From 1932 to September 30, 1936, Trier was a hub for radio production. However, the studio was then relocated to Koblenz. This shift marked a change in Trier’s broadcasting landscape.
The echoes of war reached even the Sender Trier. In February 1945, the Wehrmacht dismantled the sender’s technical equipment. The Holzturm, a landmark of its time, was dismantled in 1948. Despite its physical absence, its memory lingers.
Even today, the street name Am Sender serves as a reminder. Since 1934, this name has pointed to the former location of the Sender Trier. It is a subtle nod to the area’s broadcasting past.
Today, the Sender Trier-Markusberg continues its work. It is owned by Südwestrundfunk. The current tower is a 48.3-meter-high steel structure. It broadcasts FM radio.
The Sender Trier-Markusberg broadcasts several radio programs. These include SWR1 Rheinland-Pfalz on 94.9 MHz and SWR Kultur on 89.4 MHz. SWR3 is broadcast on 98.2 MHz. SWR4 Rheinland-Pfalz and Radio Trier can be heard on 98.8 MHz. DASDING broadcasts on 91.7 MHz.
It also supports digital radio. The Digitalradio broadcasts with vertical polarization. It operates in Gleichwellenbetrieb with other transmitters. Until December 3, 2015, Block 11A was broadcast from the Fernmeldeturm Trier-Petrisberg.
Before digital television, the Sender Trier-Markusberg broadcast analog television. Das Erste (SWR) was broadcast on channel 5. It transmitted at a frequency of 175.25 MHz.
From its humble start with hemp ropes to its modern steel structure, the Sender Trier-Markusberg has adapted. It has shaped Trier’s broadcasting landscape. As you stand here, consider the evolution of communication. Think about how this site has connected Trier to the world.