Utrecht - Grachten

The Buurkerk is the oldest parish church in Utrecht (12th C.). It was rebuilt in the 13th century, after a fire, as a cruciform basilica with a massive brick tower. Parts of this older building can still be seen in the present church, which has been twice rebuilt since then. The choir was pulled down in 1586; the site is now occupied by Choorstraat.

There are five churches in old Utrecht, situated in the form of a cross, with the Cathedral in the center, the Boorkerk to the west, St Pieterskerk to the east, St Janskerk to the north and St Nicolaaskerk to the south.

Hortus Fort Hoofddijk is one of the two Utrecht University gardens.

At the corner of Achter St Pieter and the Kromme Nieuwe Gracht is the Provinciehuis, seat of the provincial government. Part of it occupies the Paushuize ("Pope's House"), built in 1517 for the then provost of St Salvator's, the future Pope Hadrian VI.

From the Catharijneconvent Museum a narrow street, Catharijnesteeg, leads west into Lange Nieuwstraat, with St Catharijnekerk (No. 36). The church was begun by the Carmelite order in 1468 and completed by the Knights of St John in 1550. It was a Protestant church from 1635 to 1815, when it was returned to the Catholics. In 1853 it became the cathedral of a Roman Catholic archbishop, and is thus the principal Catholic church in the Netherlands.

The administrative offices of the University (founded 1636) are in buildings which belonged to the chapter of the Cathedral. The chapterhouse itself, in which the Union of Utrecht was signed, is now the Aula (Great Hall) of the University. Part of the University is housed in 19th century buildings on the north side of Janskerkhof. The new University quarter, De Uithof, with the Botanic Garden and a hospital, lies to the east of the city.