Culture of Dordrecht. Places to visit - old town, temples, theaters, museums and palaces

Dordrecht is a city with a rich history full of important events in the past. Local people have managed to keep many interesting landmarks that remind of those days. Naturally, they are like a magnet to numerous travelers from all over the world. In the central district of the city, there are more than 900 historical buildings that belong to different epochs. When taking a stroll along the picturesque canals of Dordrecht, tourists can admire ancient dukes’ palaces and mansions, many of which have been turned into museums and exhibition centers.

The city is also famous for its religious landmarks that are definitely worth the attention of travelers. Vacationers are recommended to visit Onze-Lieve-Vrouwe-Kerk. The construction of this church started it 1285 and was ended only at the second half of the 15th century. The height of the main tower of this grandiose building is 65 meters. It may not sound impressive, but such height was unique for the Middle Ages. In the bell tower, there are 67 bells, including a true landmark – the heaviest bell in the Netherlands.

Augustijnenkerk is a no less amazing landmark that travelers will certainly want to explore. There is an old monastery in the territory of the cathedral. Initially built in 1293, this cathedral hasn’t undergone any serious massive restoration, so visitors can see a truly ancient building in its original form. Nieuwkerk is also a very interesting building. Despite its name, the church is definitely not new as all building works ended in 1175. Some scientists think that Nieuwkerk is the oldest church in the Netherlands. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

Guests of the city should also not forget to attend Kyck over den Dyck windmill. It is the only windmill in the city, and it is a true miracle that it has managed to survive for centuries after its construction. For a long time, the windmill was used for grist production purposes. The malt was delivered from local breweries. Tourists should also consider adding visits to local museums into their excursion program. Many local museums exhibit collections of truly unique artifacts. For example, Painting Museum was founded yet in 1842. Its spacious halls have become home to numerous works of Dutch artists. The age of some works is more than three hundred years. Moreover, there is a beautiful garden near the museum that is also an important landmark of the city. Van Gijn Museum is open in a gorgeous mansion that was the home of a famous banker until 1922. When the owner died, his house was turned into a museum that now exhibits collections of old paintings and crafts, children toys and gravures.