Summary
Alongside the Danube in Baden-Württemberg, Ulm is renowned for its majestic minster. This city, the birthplace of physicist Albert Einstein, offers a striking contrast of medieval and contemporary elements. The vestiges of ancient city walls along the Danube and the historic district, once home to fishermen and leather workers, speak to its rich past.
The half-timbered homes and traditional German eateries in these areas stand in stark contrast to progressive modern structures that have arisen to replace those lost during wartime. Central to Ulm’s skyline is the remarkable minster, which towers above the cityscape. Prior to the 20th century, this church was ranked among the top five tallest edifices globally and can accommodate a congregation of 20,000.
Below are the most significant attractions in Ulm:
1. Ulm Minster
Ulm Minster boasts the highest steeple globally, making it the tallest finished church worldwide. As it approached the 20th century, it was recognized as the fifth tallest human-made structure.
From the tower, which requires ascending 768 steps to reach a height of 143 meters, visitors can enjoy panoramic views of the distant Alps to the south.
Construction of Ulm Minster began in 1377; however, due to its grand proportions, it was not officially completed until 1890. In the western portal, one can observe the tympanum adorned with 14th-century depictions from the Book of Genesis.
In the central column of the entrance stands the Man of Sorrows, a creation of the Late Gothic artist Hans Multscher. It is essential to appreciate the 15th-century intricately carved oak choir stalls, the apse’s stained-glass windows from the identical era, and the 17th-century organ that Mozart played in 1763.
2. Fishermen’s and Tanners’ Quarter
Located where the channels of the Blau Stream merge into the Danube lies the medieval district formerly occupied by Ulm’s tanners, fishermen, and shipbuilders.
This neighborhood reached its height in the 1500s when trade along the Danube flourished.
Evidence of this prosperity is reflected in the closely clustered cantilevered timber-framed houses, some of which are so situated that they nearly touch one another, particularly along Kussgasse (Kiss Alley). This quarter also served as a temporary stop for emigrants making their way down the Danube toward Hungary, with many residing here briefly to gather funds before continuing their journey.
The area is rich in stories and contains numerous old wooden houses now transformed into specialty shops, bars, and restaurants.
3. Schiefes Haus
Schiefes Haus, a charming establishment dating back to the early 15th century, is arguably one of the most endearing buildings in Ulm.
This corbelled, half-timbered structure has served as a residence for Ulm’s maritime captains for centuries.
With an incline ranging between 9 and 10 degrees, Schiefes Haus appears precariously positioned yet has remained standing for over 600 years.
Over time, modifications have been necessary, particularly after its riverside facade began to settle in the 1600s.
According to the Guinness Book of Records, it is recognized as the most dramatically slanted hotel worldwide. Guests can rest assured that their bed will be level, as the furnishings adjust to the incline, which can reach as much as 40 cm in each room.
4. Museum der Brotkultur
The Museum of Bread Culture is appropriately housed in a Renaissance granary erected in 1592, which remained operational until the early 19th century.
In 1955, Willy and Hermann Wiselen transformed the warehouse into a museum dedicated to bread and its significance in civilization, tracing its journey from prehistoric times to the present day.
Visitors can explore topics such as grain farming, milling, and diverse bread-making techniques from around the world, alongside the historical bakers’ guilds of medieval Europe.
The museum boasts more than 18,000 artifacts, encompassing the evolution of bread-making from ancient Europe to rice-based cultures in East Asia and maize cultures in Latin America.
Notably, the museum features an impressive art collection, showcasing bread-themed works from artists including Pieter Brueghel the Younger, Rembrandt, Max Beckmann, and Picasso.
5. Wiblingen Abbey
Located further south of Ulm, near the intersection of the Iller and Danube Rivers, Wiblingen Abbey is an erstwhile Benedictine monastery now affiliated with the University of Ulm.
Founded in the 11th century, the abbey underwent significant renovation in the 18th century, during which its structures were reimagined in an opulent Late Baroque style.
The most remarkable feature from this era is the Rococo library situated in the northern wing, renowned for its marble columns topped with gilded capitals, captivating ceiling frescoes, balustrades, elaborate stuccowork, and sculptures by Dominikus Hermenegild.
6. Altes Rathaus
Adorned with trompe-l’œil frescoes, Ulm’s impressive old town hall showcases an Early Renaissance design and comprises three distinct buildings, the oldest of which dates back to 1370. The original architecture resides on the southeast side of the complex, while the gables and delicately decorated windows are from the 15th century.
While the town hall has historically been embellished with murals, by 1900 many were in dire condition and necessitated restoration, executed in line with the original designs, illustrating important events from Ulm’s history.
Take a moment to examine the astronomical clock that dates back to 1520, equipped with a mechanism crafted by the Strasbourg clockmaker Isaak Habrecht in 1580.
7. Ulm Town Walls
For those seeking a leisurely walk, a stroll along the remnants of Ulm’s fortifications presents a rejuvenating option.
Constructed from brick, these fortifications date back to 1482 and extend from the planted Lauseck Bastion in the west to the spacious Friedrichsau Park in the east.
This continuous elevated path offers views over the Danube, Ulm’s docks, the fishing quarter, and the cobbled streets of the old town.
One particularly scenic spot is located just east of the Herdbrücke, where the colorful Rosengarten features lawns dotted with numerous labeled rosebushes.
8. Metzgerturm
A notable structure in the defensive system alongside the Danube is the Metzgerturm, or Butchers’ Tower, which predates the current fortifications, dating back to 1340. It received its name because an opening was created in the wall to facilitate access to the city’s slaughterhouse, which was established outside the city limits.
This square-based tower is 36 meters in height and features a hipped roof.
Visitors may observe an interesting quirk: the tower does not stand completely upright.
The marshy terrain has caused the tower to lean two meters to the northwest; its tilt of 3.3 degrees makes it only slightly less pronounced than that of the Leaning Tower of Pisa (3.97 degrees).
9. Ulmer Museum
Situated in four adjoining buildings on Ulm’s Marktplatz, the municipal museum is renowned for its Gothic and Renaissance sculptures, alongside a prehistoric artifact with no counterpart elsewhere in the world.
The Lion-man, unearthed in the Hohlenstein-Stadel cave in 1939, was meticulously crafted using a flint knife from mammoth ivory approximately 35,000 to 40,000 years ago.
Standing at 30 centimeters tall, it is recognized as the oldest known example of figurative art, featuring the body of a man and the head of a lion.
Additionally, the museum displays more contemporary art, showcasing mesmerizing paintings and sculptures by late Gothic artists from the Ulm School, such as Michel Erhart, Nicklaus Weckmann, Hans Multscher, Martin Schaffner, and Jörg Stocker.
Finally, an impressive collection of Expressionist works by Kirchner, Macke, Paul Klee, and Franz Marc is also available for viewing.
10. Modern Architecture
While many historic structures remain intact in the Fisherman’s Quarter, other sections of the old center suffered extensive damage due to bombings in 1944. In response, striking new facilities have been erected over the past 25 years.
The Central Library, located opposite the Old Town Hall and Minster, is designed by Gottfried Böhm and takes the form of a glass pyramid.
The new synagogue, inaugurated in 2012, occupies the site of the former synagogue prior to its destruction in 1938, offering guided tours through the church office.
Additionally, contemporary projects, including Kunsthalle Weishaupt and Stadthaus, contribute to the city’s architectural landscape.
11. Kunsthalle Weishaupt
This architectural wave has enabled Ulm to host a private contemporary art museum.
The Kunsthalle Weishaupt opened in 2007, housed within a cube-shaped building designed by Wolfram Wöhr.
The museum is named after Siegfrid Weishaupt, a prominent entrepreneur and art benefactor, whose impressive collection includes works by the ZERO group, Lichtenstein, Warhol, Nam June Paik, Josef Albers, Yves Klein, Willem de Kooning, and Keith Haring, among others.
These artworks are highlighted in themed exhibits, such as the anniversary exhibition “Best of 10 Years,” which showcases favorites from the last decade, featuring artists like Haring, Robert Longo, Yves Klein, and Max Bill, and is set to run until April 2018.
12. Stadthaus
Underneath the soaring spire of the Minster, another modern addition enhances Ulm’s urban landscape.
The Stadthaus, designed by New York architect Richard Meier, debuted in 1993 and has become a striking landmark. The spacious interior accommodates a variety of events, such as conferences, lectures, concerts, and exhibitions covering diverse topics from art to science.
Additionally, the Stadthaus houses Ulm’s tourist office, as well as a restaurant serving breakfast.
Given its prominent location, stepping inside is worthwhile to appreciate the building’s innovative architectural style and to discover scheduled events.
13. Tiergarten Ulm
Although Ulm’s zoo is modest in size, it features a diverse range of indigenous and exotic animals that engage visitors of all ages.
A standout attraction is the Danube aquarium, which envelops visitors in a glass tunnel amid the freshwater species inhabiting this renowned river.
The zoo also includes terrariums housing iguanas, turtles, poison dart frogs, chameleons, and giant African snails.
Outdoor exhibits feature the park’s resident brown bears, who enjoy a substantial enclosure, along with emus, ostriches, and Vietnamese pot-bellied pigs, as well as an interactive habitat for goats that children can enter.
14. Botanischer Garten der Universität Ulm
Covering an extensive area of 28 hectares, Ulm University’s botanical garden ranks among the largest in Germany.
The garden comprises a rich variety of plant beds, meadows, and wooded areas, all meticulously designed since 1981, utilizing the former site of a shooting range on the Obere Eselberg hill southeast of the university.
Near the university, the greenhouses feature exotic rainforest species, cacti, and Mediterranean plants.
Visitors can also explore trails featuring a traditional farmer’s garden, a herb garden, a rose garden, an arboretum, a cottage garden, an orchard, and farmland where crops are rotated annually.
15. Schwörmontag
Ulm’s annual city holiday occurs on the second-to-last Monday of July.
This day serves both administrative and ceremonial purposes, marking the commencement and conclusion of the political year in Ulm, along with the swearing-in ceremony for the newly appointed lord mayor (“schwören” translates to “to swear”). However, the day is characterized by more than just formal political proceedings.
In the afternoon, a significant river festival known as “Nabada” unfolds on the Danube. Commencing at 16:00, Nabada resembles a carnival at sea, featuring a flotilla of specially themed boats alongside whimsical homemade vessels.
On warm days, it feels as if the entire city (over 60,000 residents) has taken to the water on inflatable tubes, rafts, and rowboats, fostering a lively and vibrant atmosphere.
