This critical review article discusses the characterization of heterogeneous catalysts by UV-VIS-NIR spectroscopy and microscopy with special emphasis on transition metal ion containing catalysts. A review is given of the transitions, that can be observed in the UV-VIS-NIR region and the peculiarities of catalytic solids that have to be taken into account. This is followed by a short discussion of the techniques that have been developed over the years: diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, UV-VIS microscopy, in situ or operando spectroscopy, the combination of UV-VIS spectroscopy with other spectroscopic techniques, with chemometrics and with quantum chemistry. In the third part of this paper four successes of UV-VIS-NIR spectroscopy and microscopy are discussed; (1) coordination of transition metal ions to surface oxygens; (2) quantitative determination of the oxidation states of transition metal ions; (3) characterization of active sites and (4) study of the distribution of transition metal ions and carbocations in catalytic bodies, particles and crystals (104 references).