Ulm Minster, Lutheran church building in Ulm, Germany
Ulm Minster is a Lutheran church building in the center of Ulm, with a single spire rising 161.53 meters above the city. The Gothic structure features a tall central nave with narrow side aisles and large windows that flood the interior with light.
Construction started in 1377 when mayor Ludwig Krafft laid the foundation stone, but completion took until 1890, spanning five centuries. The tower was only finished in the 19th century following the original medieval plans.
The interior holds oak choir stalls carved by Jörg Syrlin the Elder in the 15th century, showing figures from history and religion. The woodwork depicts prophets, philosophers and saints in small scenes that visitors can still observe today.
Visitors can climb 768 stone steps to reach an observation platform at 141 meters, with views of the Swabian Jura and the Alps. The ascent is physically demanding and takes about half an hour at a moderate pace.
During World War Two, the building remained mostly intact when a bomb that fell on the choir room in 1945 failed to detonate. This unexploded ordnance was later defused and the structure survived without major damage.
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