Church/ Cathedral/ MonasteryUlmer Münster > Review
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excellent
Sprightly Sparrow
MALU (62)
Göppingen, Germany
The Ulmer Münster can already be seen from very far away and when we come to the central place of Ulm, we see it towering in front of us. In the South of Germany the cathedrals are called Münster, in the North ‘Dom. It is the second largest example of Gothic ecclesiastical architecture in Germany after the Cathedral in Cologne and has the highest steeple worldwide. It was begun in 1377 and only completed in 1890, begun as a Catholic church and completed as a Protestant one! The builders were so slow that the Reformation took place and changed the denomination. That this fine church wasnt destroyed during the war, has certainly seen by many as an act of God.
Take your time and look up, binoculars would be helpful, see the biblical figures round the portal, the gargoyles on the roof? Lets go inside and have a look at the wooden choir stalls with the carved busts of the heads of the wealthy families whose pews they adorned. Youre interested in the latest headwear chic of the 15th century? Youve got it here.
If you dont suffer from vertigo, you must climb up the 768 steps to the top of the spire! I havent done so, because I do suffer, but from hearsay I know that its worthwhile. In the right weather conditions you can even see as far as the Alps.
Are you looking for a genuine souvenir? Take the Ulmer Spatz, the Sparrow of Ulm, you can find it in all kinds of material and sizes; it doesnt matter what it looks like, it always has a stalk of straw in its beak. When the cathedral was built, some workmen were carrying a long beam of wood and tried to enter a narrow passageway marching forward side by side, not one behind the other. They crashed the beam into the walls beside the opening and didnt know what to do. However could they get the beam into the building? Suddenly they noticed a sparrow carrying a stalk of straw trying to get into a gap between tow stones. I turned its head to the side and moved the stalk in tip first. AHA! That was the trick!
Up to today the people of Ulm celebrate their ability to watch and learn!
Take your time and look up, binoculars would be helpful, see the biblical figures round the portal, the gargoyles on the roof? Lets go inside and have a look at the wooden choir stalls with the carved busts of the heads of the wealthy families whose pews they adorned. Youre interested in the latest headwear chic of the 15th century? Youve got it here.
If you dont suffer from vertigo, you must climb up the 768 steps to the top of the spire! I havent done so, because I do suffer, but from hearsay I know that its worthwhile. In the right weather conditions you can even see as far as the Alps.
Are you looking for a genuine souvenir? Take the Ulmer Spatz, the Sparrow of Ulm, you can find it in all kinds of material and sizes; it doesnt matter what it looks like, it always has a stalk of straw in its beak. When the cathedral was built, some workmen were carrying a long beam of wood and tried to enter a narrow passageway marching forward side by side, not one behind the other. They crashed the beam into the walls beside the opening and didnt know what to do. However could they get the beam into the building? Suddenly they noticed a sparrow carrying a stalk of straw trying to get into a gap between tow stones. I turned its head to the side and moved the stalk in tip first. AHA! That was the trick!
Up to today the people of Ulm celebrate their ability to watch and learn!
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