| Page Views: 1,062 Last Visit to Utrecht: March, 2005 | Utrecht, Netherlands by al_mary - last update: Sep 19, 2005 |
Utrecht was inhabited by the Romans in 47 AD
by a ford in the river Rijn. The Latin name for a river
crossing was "Trajectum" or "Ultra Trajectum",
which was later mispronounced by the natives as
"Ultrajectum", "Trecht" and then "Utrecht".
In 690 AD the first bishop of Utrecht, Willibrord, returned
to the fort and built a church on the site which now
houses the Dom Square. This was the foundation
for Utrecht's role as a religious centre.
In the 11th century bishop Bernulphus planned five
churches in the form of a cross, with the Cathedral
as it's centre. By this time Utrecht had attracted the
interest of many merchants who dug its canals and
built its wharves, many of which remain in use today.
In the 12th century trade reached its summit and the
population grew to 8.000, but quickly went into relapse
due to the fact that the rivers which served the city
turned to land.
Construction of the Dom church began in the late 13th
century. The church displays strong architectural
influences from France and Cologne and was completed,
together with its 112-metre tower, in the 14th century.
The middle section of the church was later destroyed, but
the spire is still standing and is the most important
landmark of the city.
After the middle ages the area enclosed by the city walls
(14th century) was slowly filled up, providing housing for
the poorer population. Many of these houses are still
occupied to this date. The city walls and outer canals fell
into disrepair by the 16th century and were converted
to parkland.
By the 17th century Utrecht had no significant trade, in
stark contrast to other cities of the Republic where shipping
was an important stimulus. Attempts to expand and rebuild
the city were not geared towards upgrading the living
conditions of the general public, but were meant to enhance
the scenery. The population fell to just 25.000 in 1784, but
soon recovered and reached 42.000 in 1865.
After that people started moving to the suburbs and the
population of the old city fell once again. In comparison,
about 14.000 people live in the old city centre today.
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|  | Market Day - Utrecht
Mary & Al At The Market
Click On Photo To Enlarge
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Town Canal
Although city planners have tried to destroy the
old Utrecht, one can see its history everywhere.
Ancient houses, churches, canals, bridges and
even a windmill in the heart of town.
Living in Utrecht one almost forgets about the
historical beauty of the place.
When a foreigner comes to visit, they are soon
reminded when they hear:
"Gee, look at all the old houses" ....
Click On Photo To Enlarge | | |
> Add to your Custom Travel Guide [What's This?]
| Pros: | "Utrecht Is Very Historical" | | Cons: | "None We Can Think Of" | | In A Nutshell: | "Market Days Are Wednesday & Saturday" |
al_mary's Utrecht Travel Tips
| Overview | Things to Do | | | | Restaurants | Hotels & Accommodations | | | | Nightlife | Off The Beaten Path | | | | Tourist Traps | Warnings Or Dangers | | | | Transportation | Local Customs | | | | Packing Lists | Shopping
Tips: 2 - Photos: 6 | | | | Sports Travel | General Tips |
 Comments for al_mary about Utrecht | | | | |
suvaa003 Tue Sep 16, 2003 08:33 UTC
nice pics, good start, and yes utrecht is a lovely town! |
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