The Ulm Sparrow is a landmark in, and symbol of, the German city of Ulm. According to legend, the inhabitants of Ulm needed a particularly large beam for the construction of Ulm Minster, but could not get it through the city gate. As they were about to tear the gate down, they noticed a sparrow carrying a straw for its nest; which turned it from crosswise to lengthwise in its beak. Realisation dawned on the people of Ulm, who have ever since placed long loads along rather than across their carts.
Founded in the mid-9th century, Ulm enjoyed a long history as a free imperial city, ruled only by the Holy Roman Emperor with no pesky princes in between. An important trade town for centuries, Ulm was also the birthplace of Albert Einstein. Rising 530 feet, Ulm Minster has the world’s tallest steeple, the top of which can be reached via 768 steps.
The "Metzgerturm". There was an era when butchers were imprisoned there as punishment for deceiving the people during hard times with sausages that were too small. When threatened with the death penalty, the men, who were probably endowed with excess weight, all keeled over in fright. This was evidently orchestrated such that the tower was thrown off kilter as a result.
The highlight of the Fishermen’s and Tanners Quarter is the Crooked house; a timber house built in the 14th century. The house which leans of about 10° is now renovated as a hotel. I am sure you don’t want to miss this house as it even holds a Guinness World Record for the ”Most Crooked House in the World.”