Stadthaus (Townhouse)

Name: Stadthaus (Townhouse)
Address: Gallusstrasse 14, St. Gallen, 9000, ch
Telephone: +41 71 228 85 85

The townhouse of the Ortsbürgergemeinde (citizen’s municipality) of St. Gallen bears architectural witness to the heyday of the textile industry during the early modern period. It was built at the end of the 16th Century by a wealthy merchant.

History: Until the Reformation in the early 16th century, St. John's Chapel, which belonged to the convent, and a nun's hermitage stood on the site of today's town house. In 1589, the merchant Hans Schlumpf bought these buildings and replaced them with today's Stadthaus. Hans Schlumpf represented the upper class of St.Gallen and was extremely wealthy: when he had the town house built, he was one of the twenty richest citizens in the city. Hans Schlumpf was the son of the merchant and mayor Caspar Schlumpf (1510-1587) and Anna Schirmer. In 1568 he married Sabina Zollikofer (1545-1585), the daughter of wealthy and politically influential people from St. Gallen. Hans Schlumpf's family of origin had become wealthy through the export of canvas and had trading posts in Nuremberg and Lyon. Members of the Schlumpf family often held high political office in St.Gallen. Architecture: The houses of wealthy merchants were usually both a residence and a place of business. The first floor was used as a warehouse and for handling goods, while the upper floors were used as living quarters and for representative purposes. This can still be seen in the town house today: The large, vaulted rooms on either side of the entrance hall were intended for business activities, while the ballroom on the top floor was used for social events. Due to its size, the house was also known as the “big house” or “tall house”. The third name, “the half house”, refers to the unusual floor plan. Current use: The Stadthaus is the headquarters of the Ortsbürgergemeinde St.Gallen and its administrative building. The ballroom and the renovated cellar are also used for cultural and social events and can be rented out. The vaulted room on the first floor also houses a small exhibition on the history of the town, which is open to the public on guided tours.