Clarenburg, Medieval tower house in Utrecht, Netherlands
Clarenburg is a medieval tower house in Utrecht with a facade featuring a characteristic stepped gable from the late nineteenth century, along with profiled door frames and stone details. The building comprises a sixteenth-century basement, an eighteenth-century garden room, and a rear section added in the nineteenth century.
The building began as a medieval structure and underwent several transformations across the centuries. Key changes included the addition of a garden room in the 18th century and a facade renovation in the 19th century that gave it its current appearance.
Inside, you can see late Gothic details and mask consoles from the 17th century that show the craft of traditional Dutch builders. These carved elements reveal how much attention artisans put into even functional parts of a house.
The building functions as a private residence and can only be viewed from the street. The best perspective for viewing the facade and architectural details is from Voor Clarenburg street.
Inside the house is an original heating pit from the fifteenth century, showing how residents kept warm in medieval times. This rare preserved feature gives a direct glimpse into daily medieval life within the building.
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