Oudaen City Castle, Utrecht
Oudaen is a fortified medieval castle located at number 99 on the Oudegracht in Utrecht, and is one of the city's most important architectural monuments. Back in the 12th-14th centuries, the wealthy noble families built large properties on the Oudegracht, of which Oudaen is now best preserved in its medieval appearance.
First built in the 1270s, as a family home, like the other "city castles" of that period it comprises a large, imposing main building and a considerably smaller side one that was easier to heat and subsequently more suitable to live in.
Oudaen was originally owned by the Zoudenbalch family, one of the most prominent families in Utrecht. In 1395, it came into the possession of another wealthy local family, the Oudaens, and has kept their name ever since.
During the siege of Vredenburg Castle in 1576-1577, the house, and particularly its rear fa莽ade, suffered severe damage. A number of bullet holes left in the wall serve as a reminder of that time. During the negotiations for the Treaty of Utrecht in 1713, one of the key players in the diplomatic process, the French envoy Melchior de Polignac, was accommodated here.
In 1758 the house lost its private function when the deacon of the Reformed Church bought it and converted it to a retirement home; Oudaen had served in this capacity until 1965.
During a 19th-century modernization, the pointed Gothic arches above windows on the front fa莽ade were removed and the battlements along the rampart replaced by a balustrade. The battlements on the side and rear facades were preserved.
Over the centuries, Oudaen has had many tenants and been used for different purposes. As of 1986, following a thorough restoration, it has been housing a catering facility.
First built in the 1270s, as a family home, like the other "city castles" of that period it comprises a large, imposing main building and a considerably smaller side one that was easier to heat and subsequently more suitable to live in.
Oudaen was originally owned by the Zoudenbalch family, one of the most prominent families in Utrecht. In 1395, it came into the possession of another wealthy local family, the Oudaens, and has kept their name ever since.
During the siege of Vredenburg Castle in 1576-1577, the house, and particularly its rear fa莽ade, suffered severe damage. A number of bullet holes left in the wall serve as a reminder of that time. During the negotiations for the Treaty of Utrecht in 1713, one of the key players in the diplomatic process, the French envoy Melchior de Polignac, was accommodated here.
In 1758 the house lost its private function when the deacon of the Reformed Church bought it and converted it to a retirement home; Oudaen had served in this capacity until 1965.
During a 19th-century modernization, the pointed Gothic arches above windows on the front fa莽ade were removed and the battlements along the rampart replaced by a balustrade. The battlements on the side and rear facades were preserved.
Over the centuries, Oudaen has had many tenants and been used for different purposes. As of 1986, following a thorough restoration, it has been housing a catering facility.
Sight description based on Wikipedia.
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Oudaen City Castle on Map
Sight Name: Oudaen City Castle
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 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
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