Ulmer Münster (Ulm Minster) is a Evangelisch-Lutherische (Lutheran) church located in Ulm, State of…read moreBaden-Württemberg. It is currently the tallest church in the world and will likely remain so until Sagrada Familia in Barcelona is finally completed. The church is the fifth-tallest structure built before the 20th century, with a steeple measuring 161.5 meters (530 ft.). Ulmer Münster was begun in the Gothic architecture of the Late Middle Ages (1377) but the building was not completed until the late 19th century (1890) after a hiatus of centuries. When work ceased in 1543, all of the church except the towers and some outer decorations were complete, unlike at Kölner Dom (Cologne Cathedral) where less than half of the work had been done before construction halted in 1473 (started in 1248). Visitors can climb the 768 steps that lead to the top of the minster's spire. At 143 m (469 ft.) it gives a panoramic view of Ulm in Baden-Württemberg and Neu-Ulm in Bavaria, and, in clear weather, a vista of the Alps from Säntis to the Zugspitze (highest point in Germany). Though it is sometimes referred to as Ulm Cathedral because of its great size, the church is not a cathedral as it has never been the episcopal see of a bishop. Though the towers and all decorative elements are of stone masonry, attracting the attention of visitors, most of the walls, including the façades of the nave and choir, actually consist of visible brick. Therefore, the building is sometimes referred to as a brick church. As such, it lays claim to the rank of second- to fourth-largest, after San Petronio Basilica in Bologna and together with Frauenkirche in München and St. Mary's Church in Gdańsk. The tower, however, was mainly built from sandstone. The tale/legend of the Ulmer Spatz (sparrow) is an interesting story. I received a pamphlet at the Tourist Information: the inhabitants of Ulm needed a particularly large beam for the construction of Ulm Minster, but could not get it through the city gate. As they were about to tear the gate down, they noticed a sparrow carrying a straw for its nest; which turned it from crosswise to lengthwise in its beak. A realization descended on the people of Ulm. Since that epiphany, they have placed long loads along rather than across their carts and were able to enter the city without rebuilding their gate. It's a must visit when you are in Ulm. Gothic architecture is magnificent, and you'll earn bragging rights of having been to the tallest church in the world!!

What a beautiful and amazing church. The inside of the church is absolutely worth walking around…read moreand looking at. Gorgeous. Make sure you are prepared to climb 700+ stairs. Pay the €5 and climb it. The view is amazing. It is very difficult, but worth it in the end. If you find yourself in Ulm, you must visit the cathedral. You won't regret it.

Beautiful catholic church in Weingarten. Definitely worth stopping by! I would recommend visit it…read moreon a bright and sunny day, because it gets very dark inside on gloomy days. The church was built from 1715-1724. With its height of 67m and length of 102m, it is the biggest baroque church in Germany north of the Alps.

It's fairly hard to imagine that an extremely wealthy and influential family decided to dedicate a…read morecluster of housing, meant to mimic a small city, to those living in poverty in early 16th century Europe. Well, the Fugger family did just that and its 'experiment' in social housing has lasted for almost five hundred years. Visitors are able to view a 'model dwelling' decorated as it would have been during the genesis of this project. In an adjacent room a film (auf Deutsch) about the Fugger family and how it came to create the Fuggerei runs on a loop. Pamphlets at the entrance are offered in a multiplicity of languages (including Chinese and Japanese), so non-German speakers are also able to gain a solid understanding of what's what. The on-site WW II bunker is quite worth a visit. One sees how the Fuggerei was severely damaged during the war and how quickly and determinedly those in charge decided to rebuild. While I very much enjoyed visiting the Fuggerei, I was constantly aware of walking around a complex in which people live. One is cautioned to be respectful and to not 'take pictures'. It's hard not to look at the facades of all the buildings when one walks by them. Well, it's hard for me, at least. Being a fan of architecture, I walked the streets of Augsburg en route to the Fuggerei pretty much doing the same thing. I happened to walk past a small boy kicking a soccer ball around, presumably, the front of his Fugger flat. He scowled at me when I passed him. That's when I decided it was time for me to go. There is information regarding who is eligible to live at the Fuggerei (adherents to the Catholic faith) and how much one pays (0,88 euro annually & three prayers daily, apparently). What I wasn't able to find out was how one is picked to live on premises. Not that I'd qualify...

This is a must-see for any visitor to Augsburg. I learned so much about Augsburger history, German…read morehistory, European history, social history...HISTORY. The story of the Fuggerei - a "social settlement" started during the late Middle Ages/early Renaissance by Jakob Fugger to help the poor and disenfranchised get their feet back under them and become self-sufficient citizens during a time where social Darwinism and caste-like class stratification were ravaging Europe - is one that will touch your heart and provide leagues of depth to your big picture understanding of life. It doesn't take long to come here, but the impact will stay with you for life. Added benefit: Almost everything that's written down is also translated into English.