City Go

There is some evidence that Utrecht was inhabited since the Stone Age. However, the founding of the city has always been related to the construction of the Castellum Traiectum in Roman times, decided by Emperor Claudius in 47 AD, to protect the Northern border of the Roman Empire, the River Rhine. Traiectum became the Dutch Trecht to which the prefix "uut" (downriver) was added to form Utrecht. Following waves of attacks from Germanic tribes, the Romans eventually left between 275-300 AD. In 695 the Anglo-Saxon missionary Willibord arrived in Utrecht where he founded two churches- the Church of Saint Martin and the Church of St. Salvator. The arrival of Willibord is usually considered to be the beginning of the Bishopric of Utrecht, which later grew to become the most important religious centre of the Northern Netherlands. In the 9th century, during a pillaging journey, the Vikings attacked Utrecht and destroyed the city's gates and walls. Nevertheless, b...

The Church of Saint Martin is built on the site where Utrecht was founded as a Roman border fortress. In the 7th century, during the Frankish period, the monk Wiilibord, responsible for the Christianisation of the region, rebuilt the church of Saint Martin which had been destroyed by the Frisians. He also built a second church and a school for the clergy. In the 9th century, Utrecht was attacked and destroyed by the Vikings. The church of Saint Martin was later rebuilt in the Romanesque style. The construction of the Gothic Cathedral, seen today, officially started in 1254, replacing the Romanesque church piece by piece. However, in the beginning of the 16th century both money and enthusiasm ran out, and the construction of the cathedral came to a halt. The influences of the Renaissance and the Reformation further determined that it was left unfinished so in 1674, when a tornado hit the town and country the dome of the unfinished cathedral collapsed. The ruins were left untouched ...

Saint Catherine's Convent Museum houses a vast collection of religious art, ranging from the medieval period to the 21st century. It was created in 1979 and includes richly illuminated manuscripts, jewelled book bindings, Dutch paintings from the Golden Age, altarpieces, ecclesiastical vestments and artefacts in gold and silver. It also includes a "Pandhof", a courtyard with a garden where some of the plants have biblical references. The convent was built in the 16th century by the Order of the Knights of Saint John and it included a hospital wing with 24 beds, at the time the largest in Utrecht. After the Reformation, the convent was abandoned and laid in ruins until a large-scale renovation carried out in the 1950s. Opening hours: Tue. to Fri. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sat. and Sun. 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Entrance fee: €12.50 (plus €3 for temporary exhibitions) Back to Utrecht

The Dom tower started being built in 1321, as part of the Gothic Dom church; it was concluded in 1382. At the time it symbolised the Bishop's secular and ecclesiastical power. In the beginning of the 16th century, the tower gained its first 13 bells. They each have their own name and weigh about 30.000 kilos. Later, in 1164, another 35 bells were added. On the 1st of August 1674, the town of Utrecht was hit by a tornado which destroyed part of the Dom church, permanently separating the tower from the church. The damages and rubble were only addressed 150 years later; during the 19th and 20th centuries, the tower was renovated a few times. Today, at 112 m and 32 cm, the Dom Tower is the tallest tower in the Netherlands and continues to be the pride of Utrecht. Opening hours: Sunday and Monday 12 pm to 5 pm; Saturday and Tuesday 10 am to 5 pm.  Entrance fee: €9. You can buy your ticket online  here . Back to Utrecht

Saint Catherine's Cathedral in Utrecht was founded in 1468 as part of a Carmelite Friary. It was later completed by the Order of the Knights of Saint John. After the Reformation, it was the home of a Protestant Community between 1580 and 1815. However, in 1840 it was returned to the Catholic Community and since 1853 it has been the seat of the Roman Catholic Church in Utrecht. Some relics of Saint Willibord, the patron saint of the Benelux countries, are kept here, under the main altar. Opening hours: Tue., Wed., Fri. and Sat., from 12 pm to 4 pm. Entrance free Back to Utrecht

Saint Peter's church is one of the oldest German-Romanesque churches of Utrecht, dating back to 1048. It was a collegiate church, that is, intended for the Roman-Catholic priests known as canons. After the Iconoclastic fury of 1580, which destroyed much of the religious art in the city, there were plans to demolish the church but the families owning crypts in the church put a stop to it. It was then used as army barracks for a long time. Today it is used as a Wallon church and in the church, you can find a room with a small exhibition on the history of the church. Also visit the crypt and the small herbal garden outside. Opening hours: Tue.-Sat. 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Entrance free Back to Utrecht