Stadskasteel Oudaen, Medieval tower house in Utrecht, Netherlands
Stadskasteel Oudaen is a medieval tower house standing on the Oudegracht canal in Utrecht with thick stone walls and multiple floors. It now contains separate halls for events and functions as both a restaurant and brewery under one roof.
The house was built in 1270 and first served as a defensive fortification for the city. From 1758 onwards the Dutch Reformed Church took over the building to provide housing for the poor.
The building serves as a restaurant and event venue today, showing how medieval structures adapted to new purposes over centuries. Visitors can see the thick stone walls and experience how old architecture blends with contemporary use along the Oudegracht canal.
The venue is within walking distance from Utrecht Central Station and easy to reach in the old town area. Note that the interior is divided into separate spaces that serve different purposes for groups and events.
The building houses a small brewery that produces fresh beer daily, naming each variety after the historical families who once lived in the tower house. This practice directly connects the medieval past of the place to what visitors experience today.
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