St. Martin's Cathedral, Utrecht, Gothic cathedral in Utrecht, Netherlands
St. Martin's Cathedral is a Gothic church building in Utrecht composed of a tall stone hall with wide vaults supported by slender columns. The freestanding tower rises over 112 meters and forms a two-part ensemble with the church structure at the cathedral square.
Construction started in 1254 after fire destroyed the older Romanesque church and concluded only in 1517, more than two and a half centuries later. A storm tore down the nave in 1674, separating the tower from the rest of the building ever since.
The church name refers to Martin of Tours, patron saint of French kings and travelers, who already had a chapel dedicated to him here in the 7th century. Local residents and travelers still attend services in the side aisles today or listen to organ concerts held regularly.
The interior can be accessed through an entrance on the south side, while the tower has a separate entrance facing the square. The church is easy to reach on foot because it stands centrally in the old town and is visible from all directions.
Several tombs of medieval nobles and bishops lie buried in the crypt and beneath floor slabs in the choir area. The heart and internal organs of Emperor Conrad II were laid to rest here in the 11th century, while his body was taken to Speyer.
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