St Gallen is eastern Switzerland’s main town and a major cultural center for the region. Its location makes it an ideal pied-a-terre to explore the nearby Bodensee (Lake Constance) or the rolling hills of the Appenzell region, though most visitors have never heard of it and sadly end up skipping the beautifully ornate old town.
Most of its historic center is a pedestrian zone which makes strolling through its narrow cobblestone lanes a wonderful way to spend a day or two.
At its core you’ll find the main church of Kirche St. Laurenzen, a neo-Gothic beauty that affords great views from its tower and…
… the old Abbey District, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1983 and the main reason for your visit really. The Abbey Cathedral of St. Gallen is one of the last monumental Baroque buildings in Europe and absolutely stunning.
Step inside and you’ll be amazed at the unique turquoise color scheme and the infinite amount of gilded sculptures you could very well spend the rest of the afternoon contemplating.
Looking up at the frescoed ceiling will also make your head spin from trying to zoom in on the throngs of cherubs, intricate details and vibrant colors.
The wedding cake effect over such a vast space is nothing short of elegant and supremely peaceful.
Even after the stunning cathedral, it would be hard to be fully prepared to see St. Gallen’s true jewel: the Abbey Library. Cameras are unfortunately forbidden inside so you’ll have to get a glimpse online to understand why every year thousands of visitors don felt slippers to shuffle around this 18th century masterpiece of a room.
The oldest library in Switzerland is also one of the earliest and most important monastic libraries in the world and it’s constantly named as one of the most beautiful libraries in the world too….to which I can wholeheartedly attest. From the inlaid flooring and exquisite Rococo interior to the incredible sight of some 170,000 documents – in part hand-written and over a thousand years old – safely kept in display cases, there are no questions as to why this is St. Gallen’s number one attraction.
Back outside, the compact center will charm you with its lively sidewalk cafes, half-timbered houses and many fine Medieval buildings branching out from the abbey.
Make sure you often look up to notice the ornate bay windows St. Gallen is famous for (called ‘oriels’) that adorn the wealthy merchants’ houses dating back from the 15th to the 18th century. The wooden ones in particular present a level of details that speaks a lot to their former owner’s status.
Sitting at a sidewalk terrace is as enjoyable as wandering the old town, especially when you get to dig into a Flammkuchen (tarte flambée) washed down with a cold local beer.
There are plenty of quaint squares to sit down and people watch from as well, and they always give a wonderful perspective on the various architectural style spanning the last few centuries.
End your day with yet more views and a fantastic meal at Schwarzer Adler. The rooftop terrace is especially inviting on a warm evening.
You’ll find home cooked traditional dishes and let me recommend a big fillet of veal with cream sauce served with pasta as a delicious end to your day – if you’ve walked enough to justify it of course ;).
