We get a tour of Ulm - Part One

The Rathaus, the Town Hall with it's brilliantly colored murals,
built in 1370 - the day started out quite cloudy

Another side of the Hall with a large outdoor cafe - not busy today

The Ulm Minster with it's tallest in the world church steeple,
530 ft. high

After that lovely breakfast we waited awhile for the rain to abate and then set off for Ulm. Situated near where the rivers Blau and Iller join the Danube, Ulm has been a crossroad market center since it was founded in 850. But evidence of settlement from the late Neolithic Period has been found in the city proper, around 5,000 BC. Because it was fire bombed extensively in 1944 the city is a mix of restored (and survived) ancient buildings and some very interesting modern architecture.
We started our tour in the market square with the historic town hall and then walked through the pedestrian only streets to the Ulm Minster, built 1377 to 1891. This is a beautiful church and luckily escaped the damage done by bombing in WWII. The 5 stained windows of the apse date back to the 14th and 15th C. But what I enjoyed most was the life like oak carvings though out the choir by Jorg Syrlin the Elder, also 15th C, they were amazing.
 Uli dashed into the Tourist office and bought us a lovely book on the city with great photos.
We learned that Albert Einstein was born here and took a walk down to his memorial and then onto a section of the old city walls. In my next post, we'll visit the Fischervietel (Fisherman's Quarter)!

Scott and I in front - I imagine there's always some reconstruction
going on.

Photo shows the church in (left to right) 1543, 1890 and 2015

The central nave looking up to the high alter

One of the beautiful carving in the choir stalls

Sculptures on one side of the nave are women and the other,
men.

And here's one of the men. They all look like real people.

The high alter with it's 5 ancient windows

According to legend during the building of the Minster a very
large beam was needed but wouldn't fit through the city gates.
People were about to tear down the gate when they noticed a
sparrow carrying a straw for it's nest. It turned it from crosswise
to lengthwise to fit and aha! light dawned. This statue used to
be on the roof of the Minster but has been moved indoors (a more
weather resistant one is up there now.

Lego version of the church - Lego Land is not
far away!

This monument marks the birthplace of Albert
Einstein. The house was destroyed during the
fire bombing of the city in 1944.

Thomas, Heather, Scott and Uli up on the city walls