Tallest Church in the World – Ulm Minster

 Tallest Church in the World – Ulm Minster

Ulm 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 is a famous example of Gothic ecclesiastical architecture. Like Cologne Cathedral (Kölner Dom), also begun in the Gothic era, Ulm Minster was not completed until the 19th century. It is the tallest church in the world, and the tallest structure built before the 20th century, with a steeple measuring 160.9 metres (528 ft) and containing 768 steps. From the top level at 143 metres (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.

The Construction work began on this cathedral in 1377, and was carried on in intervals until 1545.  It took another 300 years to get finished, when work began once again in 1844 and the cathedral was finally completed in 1890.  Today this giant Gothic church measures an astounding 464 ft long and is 159 feet wide.  The massive interior has the capacity to hold 30,000 people.