The Barbara Baths were built during the long period of relative peace and prosperity that characterised the Empire in the second half of the 2nd century CE. During the same period, Trier saw the construction of a new bridge, its amphitheater and an enlarged forum. Since Trier’s population kept growing during this period, the capacity of the existing Forum Baths became insufficient. The Barbara Baths were built to meet this growing demand for bathing in Trier. Once completed, the Barbara Baths would measure 172 m x 240 m and cover two city blocks.

The baths represented a major drain on the city’s water supply, and with the addition of this second bathing complex, the local sources were no longer sufficient. And aqueduct was therefore built from the Ruwer river to the East of the city.

The Barbara Baths were designed along the lines of existing facilities already in place in North Africa. The heated rooms of the bathhouse are notable for using a two-story hypocaust.

The bath complex was luxuriously decorated with marble, including elaborate marble statues imported from Italy. A marble torso of an Amazon warrior from the baths is displayed in the Mainz Landesmuseum. The baths remained in use until the Germanic invasions of the early fifth century.