Ulm is a town at the edge to Bavaria in Baden-Wurttemberg, south west Germany.
It is home to the highest church steeple in the world (161.53m), even higher than the Cathedral (Dom in German) of Cologne. Understand : With a population of 118,000 inhabitants Ulm forms an urban district and administrative center of the region. Ulm,
founded around 850, is rich in history and traditions as a former Free Imperial City (German: freie Reichsstadt). Today, it is an economic center due to its varied industries, and it is the seat of a university. Internationally, Ulm is primarily known for having the church with the tallest steeple in the world (161.53 meter or 529.95 feet), the Gothic Ulm minster (German: Ulmer Munster) and as the birthplace of Albert Einstein.
Ulm lies at the Danube river and is surrounded by forests and hills which rise to altitudes of over 620 metres, which are part of the Swabian Mountains. Because of the Danube Ulm sees a lot of dense fog especially in late autumn and early spring. Most parts of the city, including the old town, are situated on the north-west bank of the Danube. On the other side of the river lies the twin city of Neu-Ulm in the state of Bavaria.
Around the city, there are many statues of sparrows (Spatzen). Spatzen is a nickname for the residents of Ulm and a symbol of the city. Legend says that, while building the cathedral, the workers couldn’t figure out how to get the long wooden beams into the church until they noticed a sparrow entering its nest while holding a piece of straw lengthwise, instead of sideways.
Access : Coordinates: 48.4, 9.983333 / By train : The 1 Ulm Hauptbahnhof (main station). is in the town center, about a 10 minute walk from the cathedral (Ulmer Munster). Ulm is about an hour from Stuttgart and 1.5-2 hours from Munich. There are special train tickets called Lander-Tickets for travel within a region, such as Baden-Wurttemberg or Bavaria (Bayern). With this ticket up to five people can use all regional trains for a whole day for only 22 € (one person) – 38 € (five persons). Prices may change, so check the Deutsche Bahn website for the latest prices.
By plane : From these airports you can take the ICE or IC train to get to Ulm. Munich Airport (MUC IATA) 150km from Ulm, about 2½ hours by train. The airport has an S-Bahn station, which connects to other Munich train stations.
Stuttgart Airport (STR IATA), 90km from Ulm
Friedrichshafen Airport (FDH IATA), also known as Bodensee-Airport, Friedrichshafen in Friedrichshafen close to Lake Constance
Memmingen Airport (FMM IATA) near Memmingen, which is roughly 60 km away. Served (and sometimes deceptively marketed as being closer to Munich than it really is) primarily by no frills airlines
Frankfurt airport (FRA IATA) is a farther away than all the other listed airports, but may serve as your entry point if none of the closer options aligns with your plans. Deutsche Bahn and most airlines have entered rail air alliances to offer combination tickets for the train ride and the flight in one package, which might work out to be the cheapest and/or most comfortable option
By car : Ulm is near the intersection of the A7 and A8 autobahns.
Get around : The town center is small enough to walk around, but there are lots of buses and even sightseeing boats on the Danube (Donau) River. There’s a Stra?enbahn of a single line with a second line to open in December 2018
Highlights :
- Ulmer Munster, Munsterplatz 1, 89073 Ulm. Construction on this Gothic cathedral began in the 14th century, but the current version was only fully completed in 1890. The interior of the Munster contains gorgeous choir stalls by Jorg Syrlin (1469–1474) from the 15th century. The top of the steeple, which is the tallest in the world, can be reached by climbing 768 steps and offers an amazing view of Ulm and the region (4€ for adults). On clear days, it is possible to see the Alps.
- Fishermen’s Quarter (Fischerviertel). a scenic old part of town with half-timbered houses, around the Blau River. Contains the crookedest hotel in the world
- Rathaus (city hall). With its ancient colorful painted walls and the astronomical clock (dating from 1520)
- Library. The library of Ulm, also known as “Glaspyramide” (glass pyramid), because of its architecture.
- Wiblingen Monastery, Schlossstrasse 38, 89079 Ulm-Wiblingen. Founded in 1092 by Benedictine monks. Points of interest are the late Baroque basilica and the Rococo library room. There is also a museum in the convent building. The monastery is the starting point of the Upper-Swabian Baroque Route
- Ulm Federal Fortifications. The largest preserved fortifications in Germany. Built from 1842 – 1859 to protect from attacks by France.
Events : Narrensprung. The annual parade at the beginning of Carnival season.
Ulm Tent Festival. Festival in Friedrichsau Parc. Famous artists from all kind of genres perform in the huge red and blue circus tent. Every year from May – July.
Schwormontag. A town festival that includes the serenade of lights, the historic oath and the Nabada, a water parade in the Danube (Donau) river. Every year on third weekend in July.
Einstein Marathon. Every year. End of September.
Christmas market. On the plaza in front of the Munster.
Farmers’ Market. Om Wednesday and Saturday in front of the Munster
Museums : The UlmCard is available from the Tourist Information office. It provides entry to the Weishaupt Gallery, Ulm Museum, Museum of Bread Culture, Danube Swabian Museum, Edwin Scharff Museum, Museum at Wiblingen Monastery and Rococo library, Natural History Education Centre, and Children’s Museum Neu-Ulm along with many other advantages.
7 Museum of Bread Culture. In the Old City, dedicated to the 6,000-year history of bread.
8 Kunsthalle Weishaupt (Weishaupt Gallery). A modern art museum.
9 Ulmer Museum. Containing ancient and modern art, including the world’s oldest zoomorphic figurine.
10 Danube Swabian Museum, Obere Donaubastion, 89073 Ulm. Covers the history of the Danube Swabians.
Wiblingen Monastery Convent Museum. Exhibition about the secular aspects of the monastery’s history.
11 Stadthaus Ulm (Town House). Built by start architect Richard Meier. Changing exhibitions of contemporary art.
12 Natural History Education Center. Scientific collections of the history of earth and the flora and fauna.
Activities : Walk along the Donau (Danube) river and the city wall and through the Fischerviertel. Visit the many art galleries there. See the Schiefes Haus (Crooked House) and enjoy the nice and little houses with very little streets between and small rivers. Visit the birthplace of Albert Einstein. Today the site of the house where he was born is marked with a memorial.
Take a cruise on the Donau with the historic ship ‘Ulmer Spatz’. Regularly tours during summer. Starting near the Metzgerturm
Go next : Neu-Ulm (Bavaria) , Bad Schussenried , Augsburg , Stuttgart , Tubingen , Legoland Germany, about 30km NE of Ulm ,
Blautopf, the source of the Blau River, in Blaubeuren, 16km west of Ulm
