Ulm is on the river Danube and dates back to 854. It became a town in 1165 and later a free town of the Holy Roman Empire in 1274. Up until the late 15th century, Ulm was one of the richest cities in Europe but after the Thirty Years War, it went into decline. During the Second World War, most of the old town was destroyed during Allied bombing raids. It was the birthplace of Albert Einstein.