The weather was still a pain, but we managed to use a dry spell to visit Ulm and its impressive churches.
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| Gargoyle overlooking Ulm |
Ulm lies at the Danube and belongs to the State of Baden-Württemberg, but the other side of the river is still Bavaria.
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| Entering the centre from the Danube where the city wall still exists |
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| First glimpse of the town hall |
The town hall dates back to the 14th and was in a bad state at the end of the 19th century which nearly led to demolition. Luckily the town decided to renovate this wonderful building with its frescos and an astronomic clock.
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| Astronomic clock at the town hall |
During the 2nd world war 80% of the buildings in the centre of Ulm were destroyed, which is still visible with many buildings in the style of the period after the war, but fortunately the church was only lightly damaged.
Until the eventual completion of Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, the Minster of Ulm will remain the tallest church in the world, with the steeple measuring 161,5 metres. It is a Lutheran church and not a cathedral as it never was the seat of a bishop. Construction started in the 14th century and in 1890 the church was finally completed.
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| Main altar by Martin Schaffner (1521) |
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| "Highest church of the world" |
You can climb the 768 steps that lead to the top of the minster's spire. At 143 m we had a panoramic view of Ulm. In clear weather, a vista of the Alps with the Zugspitze should be possible. The final stairwell to the top which has barely enough room for one person was closed today, maybe because of Corona.
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| Gargoyle at the steeple |
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| View from the staircase |
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| City centre with the town hall and the gate where we entered |
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| St. Georg |
The St. Georg Church in Ulm was built as a Catholic garrison church between 1902 and 1904 by the architect Max Meckel in the Gothic Revival style. I was fascinated by the painted interior, very unusual for a western church.
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| Colourful central nave of St. Georg |
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| Raven at the Danube |
