Renowned for its UNESCO-listed abbey, St. Gallen is a historic city in the far north-east of Switzerland. It lies near the shores of Lake Constance where it meets Germany and Austria and serves as a gateway to the hilly hiking trails of Appenzellerland.
Things to do in Saint Gallen
St. Gallen’s most important architectural landmark is the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Abbey of St. Gall, which has a history dating back to the 8th century. It’s renowned for its magnificent Baroque cathedral and houses one of the oldest monastic libraries in the world. Inside you’ll find fresco-covered ceilings, ornate stucco work, rose marble altars and gilded screens. The Rococo-style library exhibits treasured religious manuscripts.
Overlooking the Stadtpark is the Kunstmuseum St Gallen, which displays artwork dating from the Middle Ages to the 20th century. In addition to paintings by Albrecht Dürer and Rembrandt, there are works by Paul Klee, Max Liebermann and Claude Monet. Also in the Stadtpark is the Historical and Folklore Museum, which explores the history of St. Gallen from prehistoric times to the modern day.
St. Gallen is home to one of Switzerland’s most important collections of textiles, including fabrics and embroideries from across the globe. At the St. Gallen Textile Museum, you can learn about the history of the Swiss textile industry while admiring the vintage pattern books, design drawings and old photographs on display. A highlight of the collection is the antique lace that was discovered in an Egyptian Coptic tomb.
Getting around Saint Gallen
St. Gallen–Altenrhein Airport is a 20-minute drive from the city centre and has seasonal flights to destinations across Europe. Regular trains connect to the St. Gallen railway station. Both buses and trolleybuses travel throughout St. Gallen, connecting most of its attractions.