Before catching the train to Ulm we made a brief stop in Oberstaufen and took a few pictures of this charming little town.
Then we were off to Ulm. Albert Einstein was born there. And Ulm's cathedral, the Ulmer Münster, owns the highest church spire in the world. We thought it deserved a visit.
Even while still in the train station in Ulm we could see the massive Münster steeple. That made it easy to pick a direction, although the visitor information for a map of the old town was a bit more elusive. We quickly gave up on the info and just headed for the Münster where we found the info and picked up a map. The weather was beautiful, so after seeing the Münster from the outside, we went for the old town and saved inside the Münster for later in the day.
The lady in the visitor center recommended we get a particular type of pretzel that is different here than anywhere else, so when we saw a place selling them it was easy to follow the advice. We picked a pretzel with pumpkin seeds and it was incredible. We tried a wonderful pretzel with pumpkin seeds when we were in Switzerland, and this one was different, but just as tasty.
Ulm was founded around 850 and is rich in history and traditions as a former Free Imperial City. There was more to see in the old town than we anticipated. We especially enjoyed walking thru the Fishermen's Quarter (Fischerviertel), medieval artisans' quarter on the River Blau with half-timbered houses, cobblestone streets, and picturesque footbridges.
The Crooked House from the 15th/16th century is the best-known house in the old town of Ulm. It even made it into the Guiness Book of Records as the most crooked hotel in the world.
We noticed several other buildings in the Fishermen's Quarter that were crooked, although not to the same extent.
From the Fisherman's Quarter we walked on the promenade upon the remaining section of the city walls along the River Danube and re-entered the Old Town thru the 14th-century Metzgerturm (Butchers' Tower).
Just a couple of blocks further we found the Rathaus (Town Hall). It was built in 1370 and is decorated with brilliantly-colored murals and astronomical clock dating from 1520.
A rain shower started and began to get heavy, so we went back to the Münster for a visit inside. It is a Lutheran Cathedral so it is not very elaborately decorated but interior contains many outstanding features including 15th century stained-glass windows, an organ with 8000 pipes and 15th century carved choir stalls with figures of philosophers, poets, prophets and apostles.
The main spire, world's highest, is 528 feet high. Those who climb its 768 steps (to 470 feet) are rewarded with a superb panoramic view.
After we visited inside the Münster, we went to the Arsenal, a couple of towers, and the Kornhaus.
We finished our Ulm visit with a stop at Creperie Kornhäusle for heavenly crepes. Victoria found this place on the web and we are very happy to have stopped there.
