“Few are those who see with their own eyes and feel with their own hearts.” – Albert Einstein
Today I will talk about the birthplace of the greatest genius of the 20th century: Albert Einstein. This Sunday, I and my friends headed to Ulm by taking the advantage of the long weekend in Germany. Luckily, there was a special art exhibition “Mensch Albert” by Ottmar Hörl. He built serials of little Einstein sculptures in front of the Ulm Minster. They were movable as well, so every time we passed around, they were in different orientation. As being four engineers, we loved the artwork of course! I think as a part of this exhibition, there was a German band with trumpets and drums. Both the artwork and band fed our souls and filled our Sunday with joy. And the town itself? It was a-ma-zing! In every step, we wished to live in Ulm one day.
Ulm is a charming town which lies at the point where the rivers Blau and Iller join the famous Danube. After reading lots of stories about the river Danube in history books, it was very nostalgic to finally see it with our own eyes. All three rivers cuddle the town and make you feel in Venice with German architecture. The half of the city was damaged in World War II and renovated after that. That part is called as New-Ulm and the other part as Old-Ulm. They are connected by bridges across the Danube. In fact, the states of Baden Wurttemberg and Bavaria has boundaries on that bridge! So, when you are Ulm you can visit both states in one day! Moreover, it is also the birthplace of Albert Einstein.
How to go?
Ulm can be easily reached by train from Stuttgart and surrounding towns. From Stuttgart, it takes around 2.5 hours by regional trains. We used Baden Württemberg daily ticket (11 euro per person for 4 travelers). The town can be easily explored by foot, but you can also use public transport with this ticket.
What to do?
- Ulm Minster is currently (until the eventual completion of Sagrada Familia in Barcelona) the tallest church in the world with a height of 161.5 meters. It is located in the middle of Old-Ulm, and charms you with its magnificence.
- Fisherman’s Quarter is the most significant part of the historical city center. It is located where the River Blau joins the Danube. When you walk around this area, you are filled with peace by the sounds of birds and water flow. You can find many restaurants, cafes, and small specialist shops in this area as well. Last but not least, “Staufermauer“, the most crooked hotel in the world (from Guinness Book of Records), can be seen in this area.
- Town Walls were built in 1482 as a defense against the enemy armies at the face of Old Town to Danube river. Nowadays, you can walk on these walls, and enjoy the beautiful scenery of the Danube and the historical sights such as Söflingen Cloister Courtyard, St Pauls Church, Butcher’s Tower.
- Friedrichs Park is the largest green area in Ulm. It can be reached by walking along the town walls on the left when facing the Danube. When you walk through the park, you will be charmed by scents of dozens of flowers, the beauty of Danube, and songs of birds. Don’t forget to cross the bridge and explore the New Ulm as well. You can also visit the botanical garden, zoo, and also Danube Aquarium from this park.
Where to eat?
If you want to have a good quality food by the Danube river scene, you can try Bootshaus. As the name talks itself, Bootshaus is a restaurant designed as a boat on the river. They have a small but adequate menu and serve seasonal fresh fish as well. Although each of us ordered different food, we all left there with full stomachs and happiness.
For coffee and cakes, I recommend Cafe Ulmer Münz. It is a cute cafe near Staufermauer. You can sit on the tables outside next to the river Blau, and enjoy your delicious cakes around historical buildings.
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Yasemin Vardar 