Switzerland has beautiful landscapes, but its cities, towns, and villages are worth seeing. St. Gallen, in northeastern Switzerland, is one of these cities. It is located to the south of Lake Constance (Bodensee). It's often overlooked in favor of more well-known Swiss destinations like Zurich, Lucerne, and Geneva or the picturesque towns of Interlaken and St. Moritz.

St. Gallen is, nonetheless, a fantastic tourist destination. It is not your usual Swiss vacation spot. The Abbey of St. Gall is the city's most famous landmark; it is a monastery home to what has been called one of the most beautiful libraries in the world.

Images of the library may perhaps pique your interest enough to motivate a visit. Moreover, a trip there would be highly recommended. But don't forget to round out your itinerary with a couple more stops. St. Gallen welcomes tourists of all ages and interests with open arms. St. Gallen is the ideal destination for anyone seeking a genuine taste of Switzerland.

St. Gallen History

St. Gallen has been inhabited since the seventh century when an Irish monk named Gallus established a hermitage. Gallus, who lived to be 95 years old, inspired the town's name. Because of Gallus, the region is steeped in history; the predominant Benedictine Rule mandated an extravagant library.

St. Gallen flourished during the Middle Ages due to its reputation as a culture, arts, and education center. The famous Abbey expanded and experienced significant alterations throughout the ages, notably in the 15th, while enduring invasions and attacks by diverse parties and several fires.

St. Gallen's textile industry became renowned across Europe and continues to pique the interest of observers to this day. St. Gallen's population and size have both increased since then. Similarly, St. Gallen University has earned a stellar reputation for its academic programs and longstanding tradition.

Culturally, the city has flourished and become a major draw. The St. Gallen Theater is always packed, and the city also features several interesting museums. The city's architecture vividly reflects this culture and provides countless sightseeing options.

Best Time To Visit St. Gallen

There's something magical about a winter in St. Gallen. However, St. Gallen is enjoyable throughout the year. However, winter is St. Gallen's prime season. Snow blankets the landscape, the holiday market arrives, and the city is decorated to the nines.

In addition, the many warm and welcoming taverns and restaurants are much more enjoyable when watching the snow fall outside. Wintertime is best experienced between December and late February. St. Gallen receives a fair quantity of snow, mostly around February and occasionally later. Therefore, the possibility of a wintry landscape is high.

Best Places To Visit In St. Gallen, Switzerland

Mülenen Gorge

St. Gallen may trace its origins back to the Mülenen Gorge. The Irish itinerant monk Gallus is said to have been killed when he stumbled into a thorn bush at the gorge's base. He took it as a message from God to settle here, so the city of Sitter was founded in a valley by the Sitter River.

Behind the Abbey area lies the Mülenen Gorge, which climbs to St. Georgen, where you'll find the Drei Weieren. It takes roughly ten to fifteen minutes to go to the top of the gorge. There are several historical explanations posted on the wayside information boards.

One of the trails also passes over a bridge in front of a waterfall unique to the town and, depending on the amount of rain that has fallen recently, may be quite a sight to behold.

The Abbey District

The Abbey District of St. Gallen, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1983, is the city's most recognizable area. The district's most prominent landmark is a baroque cathedral that dates back to the middle of the 18th century and is open to the public all year round at no cost. Seeing the two towers and the beautifully adorned interior is worth your time.

The Abbey Library is also located in this area. About 170,000 volumes call this place home, including several over a thousand years old. This wonderful space is not limited to displaying antique books, though. The library has become the ultimate resting place for a mummy over 2,700 years old.

Drei Weieren

St. Gallen's city hills have three ponds known as the "Drei Weieren." They were constructed in the 17th century to provide firefighting and textile industries with water. There are beautiful views of Lake Constance and the city of St. Gallen from the location.

In addition, it rose to prominence as a premier swimming spot. Historically, there were separate swimming areas for men and women. Now, both young and elderly go to this area to relax and enjoy its natural beauty.

In the warmer months, visitors may swim, promenade, play soccer, and enjoy a picnic; in the colder months, they can ice skate and go sledding. Behind the ponds is a wooded area. A mini golf facility, eateries, and a church are also within walking distance.

Mühleggbahn

There is an easy way around the over 70-meter elevation difference that separates Mühlegg and St. Georgen. In 1893, the water-weight railroad known as the Mühleggbahn was constructed. In 1950, it became a rack railroad, and in 1975, it was transformed into a funicular by the municipal of St. Gallen.

The line between Mühlegg and St. Georgen is serviced on demand and is included in St. Gallen's zonal tariff. The trip lasts about a minute and a half and goes via a tunnel, so there isn't much to see of the Mülenen Gorge. If climbing St. Georgen's steep slope or numerous stairs puts you off, the Mühleggbahn is for you.

Conclusion:

You may have asked yourself, Is St. Gallen worth visiting? You can stop wondering since you've found the answer after reading this. It has everything from ancient ruins to modern skyscrapers, religious texts to cookbooks, and everything in between. Moreover, they are always accompanied with a great deal of enjoyment. We promise you will have many wonderful memories when you leave Saint Gallen.