GERMANY - Europe by Eurail 2015: Touring Europe by Train - page 276

Tourist Information Office: Tourist-Information Ulm/Neu-Ulm, Stadthaus, Mün-
sterplatz, D-89073 Ulm
Tel: [phone]; Fax: [phone]
www.tourismus.ulm.de
E-mail: [e-mail]
Hours: April-December: 0900-1800 Monday-Friday, 0900-1600 Saturday, 1100-
1500 Sunday; January-March: 0900-1800 Monday-Friday, 0900-1600 Saturday
Notes: A display of tourist information is in the railway station to your left upon en-
tering the station from the train platforms.
Silhouetted against a blue sky, the Gothic spire of the Ulm Cathedral is a scene
you are not likely to forget. Poised on the banks of the swift-moving Danube, Ulm
is a picturesque representation of a typical Swabian city. Birthplace of Albert Ein-
stein, Ulm has withstood the onslaughts of many conflicts, including Napoleonic
campaigns, with great dignity. Considered a miracle, its cathedral escaped dam-
age throughout World War II, although serious damage was inflicted on the town
by Allied bombing. Ulm's original facades have now been repaired or replaced.
With a skyward thrust of 528 feet, the spire of the cathedral is the tallest in the
world. Although the foundation stone was laid in 1377, the two towers and the spire
were not completed until 1890. When the central nave was completed in 1471, it
could hold 20,000 people—twice as many as the town's population at that time.
Truly, this was an ambitious undertaking right from the start. The clear vertical lines
and the lightness of the cathedral's architecture are beautiful. The interior is open
0900 to 1700 daily with extended summer hours, except when services are being
conducted. There is no entrance fee, but there is a small admission charge to as-
cend the spire.
Speaking of the spire, a breathtaking panorama of Ulm, the Danube, and the
surrounding area rewards those who climb its 768 steps. A word of caution: The
climb is rigorous and should not be attempted unless you have good physical stam-
ina. Back on the Münster square in front of the cathedral, you will notice the re-
markable contrast of the old Gothic style and the contemporary architecture of the
Stadthaus (Town House), built by Richard Meier in 1993. This modern building of-
fers a variety of activities, including exhibitions, concerts, conferences, and tourist
information, plus magnificent views of the cathedral.