Groot Blankenburgh, Medieval tower house on Oudegracht canal, Utrecht, Netherlands.
Groot Blankenburgh is a medieval tower house on Oudegracht canal at number 121 in Utrecht. The building displays a stone facade with features typical of Dutch residential architecture while maintaining its original structural core.
The house was built around 1250 by a wealthy family and served as a fortified residence during Utrecht's era as a major trading power. This period shaped the development of the northern Netherlands.
The name Blankenburgh refers to the white stone that made this house stand out during medieval times. Visitors can still see this pale facade as a distinctive feature along the waterfront.
The house sits on Oudegracht, one of Utrecht's main canal streets, easily accessible on foot from the city center. Other historical buildings and shops line the waterfront, making it a natural stop during a canal walk.
The building housed a chocolate factory from 1842 and operated as a bookstore until 2014, transforming its interior uses several times. Yet underneath these commercial purposes, the medieval structure remains untouched.
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