Dom Tower, Utrecht (must see)
Dom Tower is located right on Dom Square, but you can't miss it. It is the tallest church tower in the Netherlands. You can join a guided tour of the tower and enjoy the incredible vistas from the top observation platform.
During the trip up the tower, you will climb 465 steps. Luckily, the tower is full of stories from its long history. During the hour-long tour, the guide will make lots of stops to discuss the various chapels and galleries along the way.
Dom Tower was built from 1321 to 1382 and designed by John of Hainaut. At the time, it was one of the largest towers in Europe. It was part of St. Martin's Cathedral, which was never fully completed. The unfinished nave collapsed in 1674 and left Dom Tower as a freestanding building. Overall, the tower is 112.5 meters tall.
The tower has always been a multifunctional structure--it serves as a belfry and contains private chapels. Over the city's history, it has also served as a watchtower, with quarters for the tower guard inside.
The tower features a carillon, the largest bell of which weighs 8,200 kilograms (18,000 pounds) and has a diameter of 227 centimeters (89 inches). Like the tower, the carillon has been restored several times, most recently in 1972. At that time, it was expanded to include 50 bells.
The tower has just undergone another massive renovation project. During the process, a lift was added so that you could skip the workout and just enjoy the view.
Why You Should Visit:
Most people do not consider a trip to Utrecht complete without visiting Dom Tower and seeing the city from above. The tower is known as the symbol of the city.
You can see a 360-degree panoramic view of the city and its surroundings from the viewing galleries. You can see both Amsterdam and Rotterdam from the top on clear days. The upper gallery is 95 meters (311 feet) above street level.
But the tour of Dom Tower is also an extraordinary glimpse into the history of the area. The Romans founded the city on this very site, and guides share the city's lore throughout the ages.
During the trip up the tower, you will climb 465 steps. Luckily, the tower is full of stories from its long history. During the hour-long tour, the guide will make lots of stops to discuss the various chapels and galleries along the way.
Dom Tower was built from 1321 to 1382 and designed by John of Hainaut. At the time, it was one of the largest towers in Europe. It was part of St. Martin's Cathedral, which was never fully completed. The unfinished nave collapsed in 1674 and left Dom Tower as a freestanding building. Overall, the tower is 112.5 meters tall.
The tower has always been a multifunctional structure--it serves as a belfry and contains private chapels. Over the city's history, it has also served as a watchtower, with quarters for the tower guard inside.
The tower features a carillon, the largest bell of which weighs 8,200 kilograms (18,000 pounds) and has a diameter of 227 centimeters (89 inches). Like the tower, the carillon has been restored several times, most recently in 1972. At that time, it was expanded to include 50 bells.
The tower has just undergone another massive renovation project. During the process, a lift was added so that you could skip the workout and just enjoy the view.
Why You Should Visit:
Most people do not consider a trip to Utrecht complete without visiting Dom Tower and seeing the city from above. The tower is known as the symbol of the city.
You can see a 360-degree panoramic view of the city and its surroundings from the viewing galleries. You can see both Amsterdam and Rotterdam from the top on clear days. The upper gallery is 95 meters (311 feet) above street level.
But the tour of Dom Tower is also an extraordinary glimpse into the history of the area. The Romans founded the city on this very site, and guides share the city's lore throughout the ages.
Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Utrecht. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.
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Dom Tower on Map
Sight Name: Dom Tower
Sight Location: Utrecht, Netherlands (See walking tours in Utrecht)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Utrecht, Netherlands (See walking tours in Utrecht)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in Utrecht, Netherlands
Create Your Own Walk in Utrecht
Creating your own self-guided walk in Utrecht is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Utrecht's Historical Buildings Walking Tour
Originally founded by the Romans, and once the most important city in the Netherlands, Utrecht boasts a generous share of historically significant structures. The collection of its architectural masterpieces, one of the richest in the country, dates back to the early Middle Ages.
The amazingly well-preserved pieces of historic architecture in Utrecht showcase the trends and movements throughout... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.8 Km or 2.4 Miles
The amazingly well-preserved pieces of historic architecture in Utrecht showcase the trends and movements throughout... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.8 Km or 2.4 Miles
Utrecht Introduction Walking Tour
The earliest settlers to the area now called Utrecht likely arrived millennia ago during the Stone Age. While there are also signs of inhabitation during the Bronze Age, scholars today credit the Romans with building what became the town.
They set up a castellum around the year 50 AD, a fort right at a crossing point on the river Rhine. The fortress marked Rome's northernmost point in... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.6 Km or 1 Miles
They set up a castellum around the year 50 AD, a fort right at a crossing point on the river Rhine. The fortress marked Rome's northernmost point in... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.6 Km or 1 Miles