Kloster Wiblingen - Ulm

Route: Stuttgart - Kloster Wiblingen - Ulm - Stuttgart
Duration: 9 h
Our first stop will be at the monumental monastery  Wiblingen Monastery with a grand library. Wiblingen Monastery and its church represent the final masterpiece of Baroque architecture in Upper Swabia. The interior of the library is considered to be one of the finest examples of Rococo architecture. The former Benedictine abbey is founded in 1093 by the Counts Hartmann and Otto von Kirchberg and dedicated to St Martin, the monastery was populated by Benedictine monks from St Blasien in the Black Forest. An ambitious renovation and expansion project began in 1714, turning the abbey into an awe-inspiring Baroque masterpiece. The monastery library is exquisite Rococo interior features an ornamental, winding gallery supported by multiple columns. The numerous statues and sweeping ceiling fresco represent the architect’s vision that the library be a place for preserving “treasures of wisdom and science”. The monastery church was built in the imposing, monumental style typical of late-Baroque architecture. The dimensions are impressive: 72 metres long by 27 metres wide. The colourful ceiling frescoes, painted by Januarius Zick, are considered some of the most important representations of this art form in the Württemberg region. The roof, constructed in 1774, spans the entire church, and is a masterpiece of Baroque workmanship and architecture. Next we will visit to Ulm which hosts the tallest of all Church steeples in the world. This city is historic and, apart from that, it is admired for being one of the most fulfilling tour destinations in Germany. During our tour you will see the Town Hall, Cathedral Ulm Minster, The Dolphin Fountain, Butchers Tower, Fishermen’s Quarter , The Crooked House, Neu Ulm.  You will learn about the history of the city, the most crooked house in the world, the leaning tower of Ulm, the highest church steeple in the world , one of the most beautiful fountains of Germany, Albert Einstein and  Guinness Book of Records building. Our visit we will start at Ulmer Rathaus with a view of the Town Hall featuring some brilliantly colored murals and an astronomical clock dating from the mid-16th century. The very impressive exterior murals were extended to the older part of the building and illustrate virtues, commandments and vices. Our next point of interest, Ulm Minster, the tallest church in the world, and the 4th tallest structure built before the 20th century, with a steeple measuring 161.5 meters. It took around 500 years for the church to be finished and now it’s one of the most important landmarks of Ulm. Close by we will stop for some pictures at The Dolphin fountain. With its complex structure, stems from the 52 inter-crossing jets of water and the reflections of the wet metal this fountain is considered one of the most beautiful fountains from this whole are of Germany. Next we will get a chance to see the “leaning tower of Ulm”, The Butchers Tower that used to be a part of Ulm´s fortifications. The tower leans 2.05 meters in a north-westerly direction, by 3.3° (unlike Pisa's 5.1°). We continue our tour to Fishermen's Quarter, the most romantic part of Ulm. Take a leisurely walk through narrow streets, streams, bridges and old houses. Don't be fooled by the name of the area.  The owners of the houses were not some poor fishermen, trying to make a living but merchants and ship owners who made money trading goods along the Donau. The old houses show the wealth of their former owners. In this area we will also reach probably the most well-known touristic attraction of Ulm: the Crooked House. The roof top of this building is leaning at an impressive angle of 9 to 10° over the river Blau and because of that  the Guinness Book of Records lists it as the world’s most extremely leaning hotel. We will end our tour after crossing the Danube to the Neu-Ulm side with a nice walk along the river for a breathtaking panorama view of the old town. After free time we return to Stuttgart.
Price: per person