St Gallen Attractions
St Gallen lies about 15km/9mi southwest of Lake Constance, in a narrow high valley of the Pre-Alps, here dissected by numerous streams (the Goldach, the Steinach, the Sitter) flowing through constricted gorges.
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Benedictine Abbey
A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Benedictine Abbey dates back to the 18th Century. The Abbey is famous for its Library which contains a wealth of information in volumes and manuscripts.
Municipal Theater (Concert Hall)
Northeast of the Bohl is Museumstrasse, in which are the Tonhalle (1907; concert hall) and, on the right, St Gallen's Municipal Theater (Stadttheater, 1966-68) in modern style.
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St Gallen Cathedral
(Benedictine Abbey)
The St Gallen Cathedral contains vibrant ceiling paintings by Christian Wenzinger and others by J. Wannenmacher. It was fully restored in the 1960s.
Bohl council chamber (old inn)
To the east of St Gallen's Marktplatz is the broad street known as the Bohl, at the end of which is the 16th C. Weigh-House (Waaghaus); this houses the Council Chamber. Also here is the Hotel Hecht, the oldest inn in the town.
Botanic Garden
8,000 plant species are contained in the grounds and greenhouses of the St Gallen Botanic Garden.
Hours
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 9:30 | 9:30 | 9:30 | 9:30 | 9:30 | 9:30 | 9:30 |
| Close | 12:00 | 12:00 | 12:00 | 12:00 | 12:00 | 12:00 | 12:00 |
| Open | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 |
| Close | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 |
Always closed on:
New Year's Day (January 1)
Christmas - Christian (December 25)
Christmas - Christian (December 25)
Broder Fountain (Neumarkt)
In St Gallen's Oberen Graben is the Broderbrunnen (Broder fountain; 1896) commemorating the opening of Lake Constance waterworks in 1894. Along the Vadianstrasse is the modern shopping center "Neumarkt" with an iron sculpture of St Gall by Max Oertli.
Ethnology Collection
The ethnology collection contains African masks and sculptures, ritual objects from the South Pacific and Australia and Japanese theater masks. The culture of Pre-Columbian North and South American Indians and Inuit is featured.
Exhibition grounds
To the northeast of St Gallen's municipal library are the exhibition grounds where the annual Agricultural and Dairy Show (OLMA) is held.
Gallusplatz (Gallusstrasse)
In Gallusplatz and Gallusstrasse, to the west of the St Gallen cathedral, are elegant old burghers' houses of the 17th and 18th C., such as the Haus zum Greif (House of the Griffin, Gallusstrasse 22), with a carved oriel window.
Historical Museum (New Museum)
Early history, military history, medieval weapons, costumes and a puppet theater are included in the St Gallen Historical Museum.
St Gallen Historisches Museum
Museumstrasse 50
CH-9000 St Gallen
Switzerland
Museumstrasse 50
CH-9000 St Gallen
Switzerland
Hours
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | Closed | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 |
| Close | 12:00 | 12:00 | 12:00 | 12:00 | 12:00 | 12:00 | |
| Open | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 | |
| Close | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 |
Facilities
Gift shop
Karlstor
In Moosbruggstrasse, immediately south of the St Gallen Benedictine abbey, are two remnants of the old town walls, the Karlstor (reliefs of 1570) and a round tower.
Kinderfest
This festival takes place on St Gregory's Day every three years. The festival pays tribute to Pope Gregory I, but it is geared towards children. Bright costumes, flower floats provide the color for a grand parade. Other events include street entertainment and food stalls which provide, among other things, St Galler bratwurst - a must for every visitor to this festival.
Kirchhoferhaus Museum
The Kirchhoferhaus Museum contains prehistoric material from caves, Züst collection of silver and other artifacts from the 16th-19th centuries.
Hours
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | Closed | 7:30 | 7:30 | 7:30 | 7:30 | Closed | Closed |
| Close | 11:30 | 11:30 | 11:30 | 11:30 |
Lapidarium
A collection of medieval architectural carvings from churches and monasteries.
Hours
April 2 to December 1
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 |
| Close | 16:00 | 16:00 | 16:00 | 16:00 | 16:00 | 16:00 | 16:00 |
December 2 to March 20
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 |
| Close | 16:00 | 16:00 | 16:00 | 16:00 | 16:00 | 16:00 | 16:00 |
Marktplatz
In the northern part of St Gallen's old town, which has handsome 17th and 18th C. burghers' houses with oriel windows, is the Marktplatz. At the corner of Marktgasse and Neugasse stands a statue of the 16th C. burgomaster Joachim von Watt (Vadian).
Multergasse (St Lawrence Church)
From St Gallen's Marktplatz the Marktgasse runs south - on the right Multergasse, a well-known shopping street in the pedestrianized zone - to St Lawrence's church (St Lorenz; restored 1851-54).
Municipal Library
Northwest of St Gallen's Historical Museum, at Notkerstrasse 22, the Municipal Library (Stadtbibliothek Vadiana), founded in 1551, houses the Municipal Archives.
Museum of Art
Painting and sculpture from 19th-20th C Switzerland, Germany and France plus temporary exhibitions are displayed in this Neo-Classical museum.
Sankt Gallen Kunstmuseum und Naturmuseum
Museumstrasse 32
CH-9000 St Gallen
Switzerland
Museumstrasse 32
CH-9000 St Gallen
Switzerland
Hours
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | Closed | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 |
| Close | 12:00 | 12:00 | 12:00 | 12:00 | 12:00 | 12:00 | |
| Open | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 | |
| Close | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 |
Always opened on:
New Year's Day (January 1)
Swiss National Day (August 1)
All Saints' Day - Christian (November 1)
Christmas Eve - Christian (December 24)
Christmas - Christian (December 25)
Easter - Christian (Apr 08)
Swiss National Day (August 1)
All Saints' Day - Christian (November 1)
Christmas Eve - Christian (December 24)
Christmas - Christian (December 25)
Easter - Christian (Apr 08)
Facilities
Gift shop
Restaurant or food service
Restaurant or food service
School of Economic and Social Sciences
To the north of St Gallen, on higher ground, is situated the School of Economic and Social Sciences (Hochschule für Wirtschafts- und Sozialwissenschaften), a fine example of modern architecture (1960-63), with the Institute for Tourism and Transport, student residences and a sports hall. Within the buildings and grounds are numerous works by leading artists, including Jean Miró, Alexander Calder, Alberto Giacometti, Antoni Tàpies, Georges Braque, Otto Müller, Hans Arp and Carl Burckhardt.
Spiertor (Schlössli)
Next to the Spisertor stands St Gallen's historic Schlössli. Southeast of Gallusplatz, at the falls on the Steinach, is a terrace with a memorial to St Gall.
St Gallen Library
The Abbey Library of St. Gallen, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is the oldest library in Switzerland, and is one of the world's earliest and most important monastic libraries. Its collection shows the development of European culture and is a testament to the cultural achievements of the Abbey of St. Gallen from the 8th C to the dissolution of the monastery in 1805.
St Katharinenhof (St Mangan's Church)
To the north of the Bohl in St Gallen is the St Katharinenhof, a relic of the former cloister of 1507. Still farther north is St Mangan's church (founded ca. 900 but much altered in later centuries), with a 16th C. tower.
Textile Museum
The Textile Museum has an important collection of embroidery and lace from the 14th to the 20th C., finds from Egyptian tombs (Coptic period, fourth-12th C.) and antique books.
St Gallen was the center for textile production, in particular fine embroidery and laces. The museum is associated with a design school which once was primarily involved in embroidery and lace production. There are constant changing exhibitions of textile materials from the permanent collection.
St Gallen was the center for textile production, in particular fine embroidery and laces. The museum is associated with a design school which once was primarily involved in embroidery and lace production. There are constant changing exhibitions of textile materials from the permanent collection.
Hours
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 |
| Close | 12:00 | 12:00 | 12:00 | 12:00 | 12:00 | 12:00 | 12:00 |
| Open | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 |
| Close | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 |
St Gallen Surroundings
Rotmonten - Wildlife Park
3.5km/2mi north of St Gallen is the Wildpark Peter und Paul (Wildlife Park; 800 m/2,625ft) with Alpine animals (chamois, ibex, marmots, etc.)
Säntis Leisure Park
In Abtwil, near the N 1 (St Gallen-Winkel exit), the Säntispark leisure and shopping center was opened in 1987.
Andwil - Local Museum, Switzerland
The local museum in Andwil features folklore exhibits as well as how peat is produced.
Balgach - Local Museum, Switzerland
The Balgach Local Museum features agricultural equipment, paintings, and documents.
Freudenberg
3km/2mi south of St Gallen is the Freudenberg (887 m/2,910ft; restaurant), from which there is a magnificent view of the town, Lake Constance and Säntis.
Facilities
Restaurant or food service
Gossau - Oberberg Castle
4km/2mi to the west of Gossau is Schloss Oberberg (restaurant; museum) with a 13th C. tower.
Oberbüren - Glattburg Castle
About 8km/5mi west of Gossau lies the district of Oberbüren. Its former castle, the Glattburg, which was later converted into the Benedictine monastery of St Gallusberg, is mentioned in a historical document from 788, making it the oldest castle site in the country.
Rebstein - Local History Collection, Switzerland
Rebstein has a Local History Collection that includes hand embroidery and machine embroidery, a furnished farmhouse cellar, handicrafts, photos as well as oil paintings and watercolours by Carlos Schneider.
Teufen - Alfred Vogel Museum
Historic agricultural implements are seen at this museum which also has a medicinal garden in its grounds.
Teufen - Town and Museum
7km/4mi southeast of St Gallen the village of Teufen (837 m/2,747ft), a desirable suburb of St Gallen, has an interesting museum.
It contains exhibits on the work of the Grubenmann family of engineers who built churches and wooden bridges in the 18th century.
It contains exhibits on the work of the Grubenmann family of engineers who built churches and wooden bridges in the 18th century.
Wil - Palace, Switzerland
27km/17mi (expressway) from St Gallen is Wil (574 m/1,883ft; pop. 16,000), an industrial town which at one time was a favorite summer residence of the Prince-Abbots of St Gallen. The beautiful old town lies around the Hofplatz (also known as the "Goldener Boden" or "Golden Ground"), with the former Abbot's palace (the Hof), now housing a local museum), and the Baronenhaus (1795). Nearby is the parish church of St Nicholas (1429-78) and to the southwest (originally Gothic) church of St Peter.
