Free audio walk in Utrecht
The Old Archicture
- 47 min
- 2.5 km
- 9 stops
- Free
Starts at Drakenburgstraat 1
About this walk
Utrecht’s historic architecture surprises at every turn. Walk past grand city castles, once built as both fortresses and stately homes. No visit is complete without the Dom Tower — the city’s tallest and most iconic landmark. Go underground to explore the wharf cellars, once vital for trade, and admire Paushuize, built for the only Dutch pope. Utrecht is an open-air museum filled with centuries of stories. The route starts and ends at the same location.
The stops
Walk them in order; each story plays when you reach its pin.
- 1Stop 1
The Start of Small Wonders
Some cities hide their greatest treasures in plain sight, and Utrecht is a master of that game.
- 2Stop 2
Drakenburg
The medieval facade in front of you is younger than you think, but what hides behind it is almost 750 years old.
Read the story - 3Stop 3
Dom Tower and St Martin's Cathedral
The gap between the tower and the church has been there for 350 years, and the story of how it got there involves a freak storm, centuries of rubble, and a secret that got dozens of men killed.
Read the story - 4Stop 4
Dom Church Utrecht
Two medieval emperors are buried here — well, parts of them anyway.
Read the story - 5Stop 5
Academy Building Utrecht
The room where the Netherlands was born is hiding in plain sight behind this elegant façade.
Read the story - 6Stop 6
Paushuize
A Utrecht carpenter's son became pope against his will, and the house he bought to retire in quietly became one of the strangest addresses in European history.
Read the story - 7Stop 7
The Wharf Cellars of Utrecht
Beneath Utrecht's streets lies a secret underground harbour, and the story of how it got there involves flooded streets, smuggled wine barrels, and a very determined pig.
Read the story - 8Stop 8
Utrecht City Hall
The building you're looking at has been the beating heart of this city for nearly 900 years, and the medieval foundations are still right beneath your feet.
Read the story - 9Stop 9
House Ten Hert
The golden deer above this doorway has nothing to do with a deer and everything to do with a man.
Read the story
Ready when you are
Walk The Old Archicture with ROODS.
9 stops through Utrecht, about 47 minutes. Open ROODS in your browser, walk to the first pin and the story plays.
- Stories on a map, with narrated audio
- Walk at your own pace, stop where you like
- Runs in your browser. An app is optional.
