Utrecht, today the fourth largest city in the Netherlands, was born from a Roman
fort built in approximately 47 CE. Following regular invasions by Germanic peoples,
the Romans left this area in around 270, and little is known of the settlement
until the 6th century, when Utrecht came under control of the Franks. This city
was influential over the whole area of the northern Netherlands during the middle
ages, and was ruled by a succession of bishops until 1122 when it was granted
city rights.
Utrecht’s most famous sight is the Dom Tower, a 112-metre-high steeple
that was part of the Minster until a fierce storm in 1675 destroyed the Minster’s
nave. Thousands of tourists climb the tower every year, and are rewarded with
a dazzling view of the city.
Utrecht’s network of canals give a very Dutch feel to the inner city.
In summer, the terraces of the many bars that line the canals are packed with
people enjoying the sunshine, while the winter months see people taking a welcome
respite from the cold inside the cosy cafes.
The Dutch Railways headquarters are located in the Netherlands’ largest
brick building, the Nederlandse Spoorwegen, which also houses a museum detailing
the history of rail travel in the Netherlands. Utrecht’s university is
the largest in the country, and its museum explains the world of science from
the past to the present. Another interesting museum to visit is the National
Museum ‘From Musical Clock to Street Organ’, where several centuries
of mechanical instruments including clocks and automatically functioning musical
instruments are on display.
A huge shopping complex, the Hoog Catharijne, stretches between the city centre
and the central railway station. A variety of goods can be found here and in
the city’s many markets, such as the Tweede-handsgoederenmarkt, a great
place to find second-hand bargains.
|
