Ulm Minster

Ulm Minster
German: Ulmer Münster
Ulm Minster
48°23′55″N 9°59′33″E / 48.39861°N 9.99250°E / 48.39861; 9.99250Coordinates: 48°23′55″N 9°59′33″E / 48.39861°N 9.99250°E / 48.39861; 9.99250
Location Ulm
Country Germany
Denomination Lutheran
Previous denomination Roman Catholic
Website www.ulmer-muenster.de
Architecture
Status Minster
Parish church
Functional status Active
Architectural type Cathedral
Style Gothic
Groundbreaking 1377
Specifications
Number of spires 3
Bells 13
Administration
Division Evangelical-Lutheran Church in Württemberg[1]
Building details
Record height
Tallest in the world from 1890 to 1901[I]
Preceded by Cologne Cathedral
Surpassed by Philadelphia City Hall
General information
Construction started 1377
Completed 31 May 1890
Height 161.5 m (530 ft)
Technical details
Floor count n/a
References
[2]
Ulm Minster (2003)
Ulm Minster, aerial view (2014)

Ulm Minster (German: Ulmer Münster, literally: minster) is a Lutheran church located in Ulm, Germany. Although sometimes referred to as Ulm Cathedral because of its great size, the church is not a cathedral as it has never been the seat of a bishop.

Ulm Minster, like Cologne Cathedral (Kölner Dom), was begun in the Gothic era and not completed until the late 19th century. It is the tallest church in the world,[3] and the 4th tallest structure built before the 20th century, with a steeple measuring 161.5 metres (530 ft)[3] and containing 768 steps. From the top level at 143 m (469 ft) there is 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. The final stairwell to the top (known as the third Gallery) is a tall, spiraling staircase that has barely enough room for one person.

History and architecture

Construction

In the 14th century, the parish church of Ulm was located outside the walled city. The burghers of Ulm decided to erect a new church within the perimeters of the city and to finance the costs of the erection.

In 1377 the foundation stone was laid. The planned church was to have three naves of equal height, a main spire on the west and two steeples above the choir. In 1392 Ulrich Ensingen (associated with Strasbourg Cathedral) was appointed master builder. It was his plan to make the western church tower the tallest spire, which it remains in the present day.

The aisles, with a network of ribs in the vault

The church, consisting of the longitudinal naves and the choir, covered by a temporary roof, was consecrated in 1405. However, structural damage, caused by the height of the naves and the weight of the heavy vaulting, necessitated a reconstruction of the lateral naves which were supported by a row of additional column in their centre.

In a referendum in 1530/31, the citizens of Ulm converted to Protestantism during the Reformation. Ulm Minster became a Lutheran church. Although as large as many cathedrals, Ulm is not a cathedral, as the responsible bishop of the Evangelical-Lutheran Church in Württemberg – member of the Evangelical Church in Germany – resides in Stuttgart.

In 1543 construction work was halted at a time when the steeple had reached a height of some 100 metres (330 ft). The halt in the building process was caused by a variety of factors which were political and religious (the Reformation, the Thirty Years' War, the War of the Spanish Succession) as well as economic (the discovery of the Americas in 1492 and of the sea route to India in 1497, leading to a shift in trade routes and commodities). One result was economic stagnation and a steady decline, preventing major public expenditure.

In 1817 work resumed and the three steeples of the church were completed. Finally, on 31 May 1890 the building was completed.

World War II

A devastating air raid hit Ulm on 17 December 1944, which destroyed virtually the entire town west of the church to the railway station and north of the church up to the outskirts. The church itself was barely damaged. However, almost all the other buildings of the town square (Münsterplatz) were severely hit and some 80% of the medieval centre of Ulm was destroyed.

Works of art

View toward the choir showing the ancient glass in the apse and the wooden filigree canopy of the nave pulpit

Gallery: Works of art

Plan

Plan of Ulm Minster
  • A. Entrance hall.
  • B. Main porch.
  • C. Tower hall.
  • D. Nave.
  • E. Aisles.
  • F. Choir.
  • G. Sacristy.
  • H. Besserer Chapel.
  • J. Reithart Chapel.
  • K. High altar.
  • L. Old tabernacle.
  • M. Choir stalls.
  • N. Tabernacle.
  • O. Baptismal font.
  • P. Holy-water font.
  • Q. Side porches.
  • R. Organ entrance.
  • S. Pulpit.

Measurements

See also

References

  1. Parish
  2. Ulm Minster at Emporis
  3. 1 2 Oggins, R.O. (2000). "Cathedrals". Metrobooks. Friedman/Fairfax Publishers. Retrieved 6 October 2010.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ulm Minster.
Records
Preceded by
Cologne Cathedral
Tallest building in the world
1890–1901
161.5 m (530 ft)
Succeeded by
Philadelphia City Hall
Tallest Building in Europe
1890–1952
161.5 m (530 ft)
Succeeded by
Kotelnicheskaya Embankment Building
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