Domplein (Dom Square), Utrecht

Just like many other medieval European cities, Utrecht has its fair share of city squares. But it has been said that there is only one that matters--Dom Square. Home to the impressive Dom Church, history abounds above and below this beautiful plaza.

Dom Square's history goes back to Roman times. The original settlement was a castellum at a ford near the river Rhine. This original settlement was called Trajectum, which translates to "crossing point." As a monument to that history, the city has lights in the road surface that outline the wall of the original castellum.

The best way to taste the centuries of history here is to visit the DOMunder Museum, the entrance to which is right in the center of the square. From there, you can see parts of the original castellum and foundations from the original Dom Church.

In the 11th century, this was the site of the Lofen imperial palace. Unfortunately, a massive nine-day-long fire in 1253 burned it to the ground, along with most other buildings in the square. However, parts of the palace are still visible in some of the cellars of surrounding buildings. These are being opened soon and will eventually be part of the DOMunder Museum.

The most prominent feature in the square today is the Domkerk, otherwise known as Dom Church. Opposite the church is Dom Tower, a Gothic bell tower with 465 steps that leads to a fantastic panoramic view of Utrecht. The original cathedral connected the two--the tower was meant to be part of the larger structure. But a tornado in 1674 destroyed the unfinished nave, and the two structures were never again connected.

On the south side of the square lies the University of Utrecht. Between it and the Dom Church is one of the can't-miss sights at the square, the beautiful Dom Church Gardens.

Several monuments are dispersed throughout the square, including one statue of Count Jan van Nassau. Van Nassau is shown carrying a piece of paper, his Union of Utrecht--the charter he drew in 1579 between several Dutch regions.

There is also a monument dedicated to the resistance movement during World War II. The statue was dedicated in 1949 and created by Corinne Franzén-Heslenfeld.