Ulm Part II: Ulm Münster - Visiting the world's second tallest cathedral!

If you’ve seen my recent posts, you might be wondering: how many cathedrals is this girl going to? 😌.

Honestly? All of them. Throughout the world. Across different timezones. Through bad budget decisions.

I have become an architecture freak due to Europe. There’s something about cathedrals that have always captivated me. And the one's in Europe? They’re dramatic. They’re detailed. They're centuries old and still standing there like "Yea, I survived wars, fires, plagues, and you're worried about your deadline?".

Naturally, I had to visit the famous Ulm Münster when I was in Ulm. Okay let's be real. The whole reason I was in Ulm was to visit the Ulm Münster

She did not let me down, I tell you that.

To begin with, the Ulm Münster was the tallest church in the world at a height of 161.5 meters. Yeah, that's right !161.5 metres That's the height of neck-cramps. It was considered the tallest cathedral in the world for a long time, particularly when the famous Sagrada Família was under renovation.

Just being in front of it and thinking, “This is the second-tallest cathedral, and I’m just… here?” is just weird. I don’t know why I get so pumped up about this stuff, but I do. It’s the size. The history. The fact that this was constructed in the 14th century without cranes or any of our modern technology – just talent, devotion, and dedication.

That Gothic Drama

The front of the Ulm Münster is pure Gothic masterpeice. The front and central spire of the Ulm Münster are a vertical showstopper. Gothic architecture is all about making you look up – and the Ulm Münster takes this to extremes. The pointed arches, the endless vertical lines, the intricate stone carvings, it all draws your eye upward until your neck is screaming in protest.

The surface is adorned with very intricate carvings: small pointed ornaments, hook-shaped decorations (called crockets), and even lace-like stonework that appears almost impossibly delicate. Then, around the bottom and middle of the tower, there are three large Gothic arches, and scattered around the façade are life-sized statues of saints and religious figures. They stand there so resolutely, watching the centuries go by.

Unfortunately, the left and right towers were swathed in metal scaffolding due to restoration work. And, I mean, I won’t lie – modern construction materials right next to medieval stone is just a bit of a visual buzzkill. It was like someone photobombed a Renaissance painting.

But, seriously? The fact that it is being restored is actually kind of reassuring. These buildings are living history. They need to be maintained. So, yeah, I will definitely be back once the restoration is finished.

Just the night before I visted Ulm, it had been snowing a lot. The town was full of snow and ofc I loved it. But I was worried that the gloomy atmosphere might ruin my day out. But thankfully the entire morning and noon it was bright and sunny! The light was hitting the stone in this soft, glowing way that made the cathedral look even more beautiful.

While the exterior is awe-inspiring, the interior is a case of understated awe.

As soon as you enter, everything changes. The high nave stretches out before you, held up by giant pillars that seem to go on forever. The ceilings are vaulted, giving the impression that the very building is trying to breathe its way upwards.

The stained glass windows are breathtaking. Some of them are from the 14th and 15th centuries, while others were restored after being damaged during World War II. When the sun shines through the windows, the whole interior is bathed in colors of emerald, ruby, and gold. It is not loud or showy beauty. It is slow, immersive beauty.

And then there are the choir stalls – intricately carved wooden benches from the 15th century, adorned with minute figures, leaves, and symbolic carvings. The workmanship was inspired. Just think about carving something that detailed... by hand... all those centuries ago.

But now, let me tell you about something that made me feel both enlightened and slightly uneducated. So, in Strasbourg, when I visited the Notre Dame, I noticed this amazing stairway-like feature inside the church. It was attached to a pillar which was interesting and I was like, “Wow, that’s so beautiful.”

And then I saw it again in Ulm. And that’s when I stopped and thought, “Huh? Is this a cathedral thing?” And of course, I Googled it. It’s called a pulpit.

I know many of you guys already knew this. But I didn’t. 😭

The pulpit is where the priest would go up to give his sermon. And since there were no microphones back then, it was necessary to elevate the priest so that his voice could be heard throughout the large interior of the church.

But what I find really interesting is that they didn’t just create a functional staircase and leave it at that. No, they had to turn it into a work of art. The pulpit in Ulm Münster is adorned with intricate sculptures and stonework that look like they belong in a museum.

Fun fact: In many old churches, a tiny hourglass was actually incorporated into the side of the pulpit. It was literally there to make sure the preacher didn’t go on for too long. Time management for medieval sermonizers. I just about died laughing at this one. Just picture yourself in the middle of a sermon, looking over at the pulpit and thinking, "Oh no, my sand is running out!"

Why I’ll Keep Visiting Cathedrals

No one asked me this, but I'm still gonna tell.

The thing is, cathedrals are time capsules. They are a fusion of art, engineering, religion, politics, and community – all the elements encapsulated in stone.

I am not here to compare them. I am not competent to judge the architectural detail or the theological meaning. I am simply here to stand before them, my neck cranked up awe, my lips whispering “wow” in reverence. And Ulm Münster certainly deserved its wow.

So, yes. More cathedrals in future installments, I’m sure.

Because if Europe is going to erect masterpieces every few kilometers, I am going to visit them. 😊