Ulm Minster

Ulm Minster holds the record for the tallest church tower in the world, at 161.5 metres, and dominates the skyline of the Danube city of Ulm. Construction began in 1377 but the tower was not completed until 1890, giving the building a mix of authentic medieval Gothic stonework and 19th-century additions that faithfully continued the original design. Inside, the nave houses intricately carved late-Gothic choir stalls by Jörg Syrlin the Elder and stained glass windows dating from the 14th and 15th centuries. The main draw for most visitors is the climb of 768 steps to the tower's viewing platform, which on a clear day offers views stretching to the Alps. A visit to the nave alone takes about thirty minutes, while the full tower climb adds an hour, including queuing time. Clear, low-humidity days, often in autumn or after a cold front in winter, give the best visibility for the Alpine views, and climbing shortly after opening avoids both the midday heat inside the stone stairwell and the busiest queues.