Sightseeing in Utrecht - what to see. Complete travel guide

This city is located in the central part of the country. This is a major university center and a popular resort of the Netherlands. First mentions of the city belong to the first century. At that time a large fortress was built by the Romans on the place of the modern city. For many years Utrecht has been an important point of defense. In the end of the 7th century it became a large diocese. This is the reason why numerous temples, churches and other religious buildings have survived here till our days. In the middle of the 16th century the city became the center of Utrecht Dutch Republic.

The central part of the city is surely the most notable for tourists. Several major museums are also located here. If you want to see a collection of paintings by best Dutch painters, you will find all you need in Central Museum. Fans of numismatics should visit Museum of Coins. Other interesting exhibitions are presented in Railway Museum and Museum of Science and Society.

Domkerk cathedral is notable enough to distinguish it from the above-mentioned religious sites of the city. The spire of this beautiful Gothic building is visible from all parts of the city. This spire is considered the highest one in the Netherlands. The construction of the cathedral started in the middle of the 13th century and lasted more than three hundred years. The original building was designed in the Romanesque style, but it was rebuilt several times. Now its facade and tower are made in the late Gothic style, but the interior has retained the charming designs of 13 - 14 centuries. The inner decoration of the cathedral’s halls has never been changed. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

Several notable buildings are located near the cathedral. Visitors are recommended to attend Bishop’s Garden and the arcade located on its territory. Giant stained-glass windows depicting saints are the main decoration of the arcade. If you manage to visit this city in late August, you will be able to participate in a nice holiday - Festival of Early Music. At this time of year the city attracts best musicians from different parts of the world. The beautiful music is played here during seven days, rejoicing and delighting music lovers.

Van Verdun castle is an outstanding historical monument. Its construction took place in the first half of the 15th century. For hundreds of years of its existence, the castle changed its status repeatedly. In the 19th century, it housed a military prison, later they opened there a hospital. In the early 20th century, the historic building belonged to the Ministry of Defence. Recently, the old castle has been fully refurbished. Nowadays, a prestigious restaurant is housed there. The castle is often used for weddings and other special occasions.

In the vicinity of Utrecht is an old Groenstein estate. It is also a preserved part of the medieval fortifications. Supposedly, the castle was built at the end of the 14th century and used to be part of an extensive building complex initially. To this day, only the manor survived. Since the mid-18th century, it has remained almost unchanged. Many buildings were destroyed at the end of the 19th century. Currently, the estate is remarkable for its picturesque park and artificial canals.

On one of the central streets of the city, the old Clarenburg manor is found. It was built in the 12th century. In the middle of the last century, the historical building miraculously avoided demolition. The mansion prevented the construction of a new highway. Today, the restored building includes a restaurant and unique cellars from the times of the early Middle Ages.

The Lichtenberg castle is located not far from the Old Canal. It was also built in the 12th century and originally belonged to a wealthy Lichtenberg family. The castle has been privately owned until 1537. Then, Charles V decided to buy it back and renovate for the needs of the city council. In the first half of the 19th century, the building underwent an extensive renovation and acquired the unique features of the neoclassical style. It is still operated by the city municipality.

Although, only the ruins of the ancient Vredenburg Castle have remained, it is still an important historical symbol for Utrecht. It was built in the first half of the 16th century. Once, the castle with economic annex buildings occupied a vast territory. Subsequently, the castle lost its primary importance and was destroyed. Archaeologists succeeded in discovering its remaining fragments quite recently, in 1976. Now, guests of Utrecht can see the preserved part of the foundation of the once magnificent castle.