The last preserved part of Utrecht's medieval city wall. This city wall can be found in the Zocherpark near the Lucasbolwerk, and near the Stadsschouwburg. The wall originally consisted of a thick foundation on which a shield wall was built. On top of that came a row of arches on pillars. These arches can be seen here. The arches had to carry the ramp on which the defenders stood. The construction of the wall was started after Utrecht was granted city rights in 1122 and the right to defend itself. The full extent of the wall enclosed the medieval city centre. This part was built between 1577 and 1579.
In its immeasurable wisdom, the municipality of Utrecht once decided to place black racks in the arches, perhaps as a bicycle shed. I took those racks away, because they simply weren't there in the Middle Ages. For historical reasons I made the photo in black and white.
Hi there! Nice seeing you here! I'm Jan vd Knaap, a photographer in Utrecht. I normally deal with portrait photography, for humans and animals, and I give workshops to get the most out of the camera. But in the meantime, I fill my account here.. Read more…