St. Gallen

In the eastern part of Switzerland lies the town of St. Gallen, nestled between Lake Constance and the Appenzellerland. Located in the four-country corner of Switzerland, Germany, Austria and the Principality of Liechtenstein, St. Gallen is a great starting point for excursions into a beautiful region, from the shores of Lake Constance to the pristine alpine landscapes of the Appenzellerland shadowed by the highest peak in the region, the Säntis.

Founded in the 7th Century, St. Gallen evolved from the hermitage of the Irish monk Saint Gall. Today, it has evolved into a large agglomeration, the central hub of eastern Switzerland. The city centre attracts visitors with its rows of historical, timbre-framed houses and the ancient abbey of St. Gallen, renowned for its unique baroque library, registered as a UNESCO World Heritage site. The Abbey Library houses some 170,000 documents; many of these books, illuminated by monks from the middle ages, when St. Gallen was one of the most important centres of western culture, are counted as some of the most precious books of the world, of inestimable value for history, art and culture.

Next to the Abbey Library, St. Gallen is internationally known as the home of the University of St. Gallen, one of the world’s leading business schools.