It is often said that the spectacular architecture of the Sagrada Familia is actually everything that Antoni Gaudí ever dreamed of for Barcelona, ​​which is no small feat, obviously. The monumental church that became World Heritage Site in 2005 It never seems to be completely finished, and possibly that is one of its singularities: the ability to seem “alive” continuously. Be that as it may, if the temple finally completes its works in 2026, one thing seems clear: it will be the tallest church in the world.

Ulmer Münster: still with a record. We are talking about German architecture, a Gothic-style Lutheran church located in the south of the country that holds the title of the tallest church in the world since its completion in 1890, with a height of 161.5 meters. However, his reign seems to have its days numbered until the end of 2025, when the “Tower of Jesus Christ” of the Sagrada Familia will supposedly be completed, which It will reach 172.5 meters, surpassing it by just 11 meters.

Of course, the Germans remain hopeful that the Barcelona church will be delayed, and it would not be unreasonable. The construction of the Sagrada Familia has lasted more than 142 years (and counting), although the idea is to conclude in 2026, coinciding with the centenary of Gaudí’s death.

The cross The most curious thing about this story is that, ironically, the last section that will allow us to reach this final height will depend on a 17 meter cross manufactured by a German company. Despite this, the inhabitants of Ulm seem not to be worried, believing that the true greatness of Ulmer Münster lies in its history and spiritual significance. Or at least that’s what they say in public.

As for the piece, it is a walkable glass cross that will crown the “Tower of Jesus Christ” of the Sagrada Familia. The structure, made in six parts, is being produced in Gundelfingena town located 36 kilometers from Ulm.

“German” guilt. The Bild counted that the German company Josef Gartner GmbH, a world-renowned specialist in facades and architectural projects, is in charge of manufacturing and assembling the glass cross. With a history that includes the construction of the Elbphilharmonie in Hamburg or the Apple headquarters in San Francisco, this company won the tender for the project in Barcelona before the pandemic.

What happened? That due to the interruptions caused by the coronavirus, work resumed at the end of 2023. Now, the manufacturing of the components is progressing and they are expected to be progressively transported to Barcelona, ​​where assembly on the tower will begin in early summer 2025. .

The path to becoming a symbol. The history of Ulmer Münster began in 1377, when the citizens of Ulm They decided to replace their old parishlocated outside the city walls, by a new structure in the heart of the town. That decision arose due to the risks of crossing the city gates during the constant wars of the Middle Ages. Financed directly by the citizens themselves, the architecture was conceived with the ambitious idea of ​​having the tallest tower in the world.

Of course, the construction was not without difficulties. In 1543, with the Protestant Reformation and the economic tensions of the time, the work was paralyzed. For more than three centuries, the structure remained unfinished until work resumed in 1844. Finally, on May 31, 1890, the church was completed, reaching a historic height of 161.5 meters and thus surpassing Cologne Cathedralwhich rises to 157.2 meters.

Resilience to time and destruction. During World War II, the city of Ulm was practically razed by a bombing in 1944. Despite the destruction of the entire city, the Ulmer Münster remained standingperpetuating itself since then as a symbol of resistance and hope in the midst of chaos. However, its age and natural wear and tear, added to the influx of more than a million annual visitorshave caused the church to require constant restoration and maintenance work.

Currently, Visitors can ascend its 560 steps to a platform located more than 100 meters away, a space from where you can enjoy panoramic views of the city and its surroundings. The upper platform, at exactly 143 meters, remains temporarily closed for renovations and repairs to the staircase structure.

A pride despite everything. They had a few days ago in AP that the citizens of Ulm do not feel the loss of the title as a tragedy. the church will continue to be a central symbol of the citynot only because of its height, but because of the dedication of generations that made its construction possible. For local inhabitants, as Christos Kalokerinosthe true value of the church lies in its history, its spirituality and its architectural beauty, beyond any world record.

Not only that. Ulm also has another reason to be proud: his connection with Albert Einstein. The famous physicist was born in the city in 1879 and, although he only lived there for his first 15 months, his connection with the enclave continues to be remembered. What’s more, in 1923, Einstein returned and climbed to the top of the Ulmer Münster tower, an event that the city plans stand out even more in your tourism strategy.

Tourism. Be that as it may, and with the imminent loss of the title of the tallest church in the world, Ulm’s tourism department says it is ready to adapt. Dirk Homburg, spokesperson for the tourism area, highlighted that the city has much more to offer: a rich combination of art, culture and tradition. In addition, and as we said, they plan to reinforce Albert Einstein’s legacy as an additional symbol of the city and its historical importance.

Although sooner or later the Holy Family will take the title in the coming years, the Ulmer Münster will remain an incomparable monument, a testament to the tenacity of the citizens of Ulm and the greatness of Gothic art. If you want also, for the Swabiansit is not necessary for the whole world to know their greatness, it is enough for them to know it themselves.

As they proudly emphasize, their church will continue to be a spiritual and cultural beacon for future generationsregardless of its position in world records.

Image | Martin Kraft, Pexels, Armin Appel

In techopiniones | Gaudí planned a heavenly staircase for the Sagrada Familia. Fulfilling the project implies expropriating the neighbors

In techopiniones | I have seen several shows with drones and it is becoming clearer to me: they will end up replacing fireworks