UNESCO World Cultural Heritage
Step back in time and discover St.Gallen’s treasures
The Abbey District of St.Gallen was once one of the most important intellectual centres in Western Europe. Even today, you can still feel the spirit of the Benedictine monks when you enter the Abbey District of St.Gallen. The exquisite architecture, including the baroque cathedral, and the impressive collection of original manuscripts make the Abbey Precincts a cultural treasure trove. The Abbey District was designated a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site in 1983 – a well-deserved accolade.
The landmark of the city of St.Gallen
St.Gallen Cathedral
This magnificent baroque cathedral, with its two prominent towers reaching 68 metres into the sky, has come to symbolise the city of St.Gallen. It was built in the mid-18th century and forms a unique historical site together with the Abbey District and the Abbey Library.
The oldest library in Switzerland
The Abbey Library of St.Gallen
The Abbey Library of St.Gallen is the oldest library in Switzerland and one of the largest and oldest monastery libraries in the world. The rococo-style hall is considered one of the most beautiful in the country. The 170,000 books and 2,000 original documents from the Middle Ages bear witness to the development of European culture and include fundamental works of European intellectual history.
Home of the famous St.Gallen Monastery Plan
Exhibition hall and vaulted cellar
The public can now view the famous 9th-century St.Gallen Monastery Plan in its original form for the first time. The parchment is the earliest representation of a monastery district from the Middle Ages. The items contained in the vaulted cellar include archaeological artefacts from the Carolingian St.Gallen cathedral, which was built around the year 830.
Ready to discover this UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site?
Immerse yourself in the unique world that is the Abbey District and take a guided tour of the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site.
