St. Catharinakathedraal (St. Catherine's Cathedral), Utrecht

St. Catharinakathedraal (St. Catherine's Cathedral), Utrecht

St. Catharinakathedraal (St. Catherine's Cathedral) in Utrecht is a Roman Catholic temple dedicated to Saint Catherine of Alexandria. It was built as part of the Carmelite friary founded in 1456. After 1529, the work on the building was continued by the Knights Hospitaller order, and was completed only in the mid-16th century.

From 1580 to 1815 it was the home of a Protestant community. In 1815, the temple was returned to the Roman Catholics, first as a garrison church, and then, since 1842, had continued as a parish church.

As of 1853, St. Catherine's has been the seat of the Roman Catholic archdiocese of Utrecht in the capacity of a Cathedral. In 1898, the architect Alfred Tepe commenced major changes to the building. It was extended with the current western nave, copying the old façade, possibly designed by Rombout Keldermans II. A tower, modeled on that of the Kampen town hall, was added in 1900.

Some of the relics of Saint Willibrord, the patron saint of Benelux countries, are held inside the reliquary under the main altar.

For financial reasons, in 2018, the parish board announced plans to shut down the Cathedral. However, on March 2, 2019, that decision was overturned by the Archbishop of Utrecht due to the lack of support from local Catholics, as well as in view of the national significance of Saint Catherine's as the Metropolitan Cathedral of the Dutch Church Province.
Sight description based on Wikipedia.

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St. Catharinakathedraal (St. Catherine's Cathedral) on Map

Sight Name: St. Catharinakathedraal (St. Catherine's Cathedral)
Sight Location: Utrecht, Netherlands (See walking tours in Utrecht)
Sight Type: Religious
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:

Walking Tours in Utrecht, Netherlands

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Create Your Own Walk in Utrecht

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Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.8 Km or 2.4 Miles
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Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.6 Km or 1 Miles