The Romans had once built a fortress here in the 1st century. Under the first Bishop of Utrecht, the country’s first Christian church was built here. Construction began in 1254. Since in the 17th century the nave was destroyed by a hurricane, the tower and the choir have been separated. The cathedral has a carillon with 50 bells. Though quite a few high-rise buildings have been built in Utrecht over the last years, the cathedral tower, with its height of 112 m, still dominates the skyline and is the country’s highest church tower.
