⛪ Abbey of Saint Gall
Switzerland
About This Sacred Site
The Abbey of Saint Gall in the Swiss city of St. Gallen traces its origins to the hermitage of the Irish monk Gallus in 612. It grew into one of the most important Benedictine monasteries in Europe, and its library — still in its original Baroque hall — is one of the oldest and richest in the world, with over 170,000 volumes including priceless medieval manuscripts. The abbey precinct and library were inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983.
Key Facts
- •Founded in 612 as a hermitage by the Irish monk Gallus
- •The abbey library contains over 170,000 volumes and 2,100 manuscripts, some dating to the 8th century
- •The Baroque library hall (1758–1767) features a painted ceiling and the inscription 'Pharmacy for the Soul'
- •The St. Gall Plan (c. 820) is the oldest surviving architectural plan of a monastery
- •Inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983
Location
Coordinates: 47.4233, 9.3771
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