Ulm, Germany - Day 6 side trip
Here's where we took advantage of the "My Way" aspect of our tour. Having an ancestral interest in Ulm, we took a train from Munich for the day and explored the old city on foot.
Here is Ulmer Münster, a Lutheran church (since Reformation) built starting in 1377. It has the world's highest church steeple. There are 768 steps to the bulge below the tip. We climbed every step.
Here is Ulmer Münster, a Lutheran church (since Reformation) built starting in 1377. It has the world's highest church steeple. There are 768 steps to the bulge below the tip. We climbed every step.
West portal of Ulmer Münster.
Saints above the arches.
Creation story.
St. Anthony and John the Baptist.
Mary and Baby Jesus.
Ulmer Münster nave.
The organ has 8,920 pipes, 5 manuals, 100 registers. We were fortunate to arrive in time for a magnificent 30 minute concert. The scale is deceiving. When the organist came out afterward to be acknowledged, we were surprised to see he was only as tall as the smallest pipes.
Rib vaulting on side aisle.
So many beautiful windows.
Besserer Chapel - 15th Century windows by Hans Acker.
Besserer Chapel windows.
Detail of stained glass by Han Acker.
The amazing choir stalls - carved out of oak by Jörg Syrlin the Elder in 1474.
500 year old oak bust of Ptolemy on the choir stalls.
Roman philosopher Seneca.
Cicero.
Pythagoras playing his lute - missing a finger like Jerry Garcia.
A climb to the top. The last spiral staircase is a tight squeeze!
We share the gargoyle's view.
Ulm is on the Donau (Danube) downstream from it's headwaters where it first becomes navigable for shipping.
The tents along the river at right in front of the 14th century Metzgerturm (Butchers' Tower) are for Donaufest.
Like Monopoly hotels.
Gables galore.
Houses in Fischerviertel - Fishermen's Quarter.
Steeple climbers work up an appetite. Randy especially enjoyed his "fitness salat". This was an example of what we seemed to find everywhere - fresh, local, delicious food.
Walking in the Fishermen's Quarter.
The sparrow is Ulm's symbol and is honored in over 40 sculptures around the town.
The Alte Münz (Old Mint) building in background, updated to it's Renaissance style in the 16th and 17th centuries. At right is 16th century "Crooked House".
Crooked House - detail.
The old town wall along the Danube.
Riverside houses.
Old and new - Ulmer Münster and City Library.
Metzgerturm roof detail.
Ulmer Münster from across the river.
Donaufest along the river. Every two years, Donaufest celebrates the cultures downriver from Ulm to the Black Sea. The Danube flows from here through Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria, Moldova, Ukraine and Romania.
Donaufest shoppers.
Crafts from down the Danube.
Hand crafted wooden toys.
Felt in many colors.
Artisans have set up shop.
Donaufest food booth. Goulash on a grand scale.
Palatschinken booth - Eastern European crêpes rolled with jam and powdered sugar. Good thing we worked up an appetite on our stroll along the river.
Confections from downriver.
Skulling on the Danube.
Traditional boats.
Kayakers putting in.
Back in Fishermen's Quarter.
No vinyl windows here.
Water wheel on the Blau, a tributary flowing through Fisherman's Quarter into the Danube.
There are many unofficial crooked houses.
Shoppers in Ulm.
Town Hall - 14th century.
Decoration on the Town Hall facade dates from the 16th century.
Paintings depict historic as well as Biblical scenes.
Stadtarchiv - City of Ulm Archives building. It has to be big for a city this old.
Busy shopping street.
Another Ulm sparrow - this one is called "World Sparrow."
Ulmer Münster bathed in sunshine. Our short visit was well rewarded.
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