Suche
Mein Konto
Ulm loses the title: Sagrada Família towers over the cathedral!
Ulm loses the title of highest church to the Sagrada Família. Insight into the construction progress and the reactions of the people of Ulm.
Ulm loses the title: Sagrada Família towers over the cathedral!
On October 30, 2025, a significant change occurred in the world of church architecture: the Sagrada Família in Barcelona took the title of the tallest church in the world. With an impressive height of 163 meters, it now towers over Ulm Minster, whose tower, at 161.53 meters, previously held this title. The attachment of the first cross segment to the central tower, which is still to grow to its final height of 172.50 meters, means that the construction work on the Sagrada Família enters a new, final phase. This construction phase is expected to be completed in 2026, in time for the 100th anniversary of the death of Antoni Gaudí, the famous architect who began construction in 1882.
The Sagrada Família, which has now become a tourist attraction known far beyond the city limits of Barcelona, welcomed 4.9 million visitors last year, including 15 percent from the USA. This gives an idea of the appeal that this masterpiece still has today, even though Gaudí could not have expected that the church would ever be completed during his lifetime.
Reactions in Ulm
The loss of the title hurts, and this is not only made clear by Ulm's mayor Martin Ansbacher. He emphasizes that the cathedral is more than a height record - it has a deep-rooted historical significance for the city and its citizens. Minster builder Heidi Vormann sees the Sagrada Família as a new building and emphasizes that the Ulm Minster remains historically the largest church tower. This perspective shows that for many the meaning of a building lies not only in its height, but also in its history and the identity that shapes it.
Minster Dean Torsten Krannich expresses confidence that despite the loss of height, Ulm Minster will remain symbolic for people. It remains to be seen how the two churches will develop in the coming years, especially with the planned completion of the Sagrada Família in the 2030s and the first major celebration of Gaudí's legacy next year, which will mark the centenary of his death.
While the Sagrada Família undoubtedly set a record, Ulm Minster remains a monumental piece of history that has remained anchored in people's hearts over the decades. And perhaps that is the reason why Ulm looks at its cathedral with pride - even if the height no longer makes the biggest waves as it did in the beginning.