Museum Sarganserland

About the museum

Schloss Sargans above the little town was first mentioned in records in 1282 and from the middle of the 13th century was the ancestral seat of the Counts of Werdenberg-Sargans. Together with the county it passed to the Swiss Confederates in 1483; until 1798, 181 bailiffs resided here one after another, and their coats of arms still decorate the facade of the great hall. After the end of the Old Swiss Confederacy the castle belonged to the state, served among other things as a schoolhouse in the 19th century and passed to the Ortsgemeinde Sargans in 1899.

A local history museum has been housed in the castle since 1966. After a renovation it reopened in 1983 as the Museum Sarganserland in the castle tower, and in the same year the Council of Europe named it “Museum of the Year,” the first Swiss museum to receive the award. On six floors the permanent exhibition presents the land and people of the Sarganserland: from geology, minerals and wildlife through castles, towns, church and law to woodworking and blacksmithing, mining on the Gonzen, housing, food, alpine farming and customs.

Traces of 900 years of construction can also be read in the rooms. The great hall contains, among others, the district court chamber and the Agnesstube, and a 16th-century wine press stands in the press cellar. For children, the tower has the Kinderspur, a children’s trail with 15 stations about the medieval count and countess Jörg and Anna.

Highlights

• Museum on six floors in the 900-year-old castle tower
• Geology, mining on the Gonzen and iron smelting in the Sarganserland
• District court chamber, Agnesstube and dungeon in the castle
• Hands-on stations and puzzle walls plus the children’s trail with 15 stations
• Named “Museum of the Year” by the Council of Europe in 1983
• Press cellar with a 16th-century wine press

Permanent exhibitions

• Museum Sarganserland im Schlossturm – Six floors tell the history and culture of the Sarganserland, from geology and mining on the Gonzen through castles, law and crafts to alpine farming and customs.
• Kinderspur Schloss Sargans – On the children’s trail in the castle tower, children look for traces of the Middle Ages at 15 stations and meet the count and countess Jörg and Anna.

Founded

1966

Admission & discounts

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible: no information
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The exhibition is spread over six floors in the castle tower and is reached by stairs.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
• Hands-on stations

The children’s trail in the castle tower takes children through the Middle Ages with 15 stations where they can try things out, learn something new and be amazed. The museum also has puzzle walls and drawing tables.

Getting there & parking

From Zurich and Chur take the Sargans highway exit, drive about 800 m toward Trübbach, then follow the signs; from St. Gallen take the Trübbach exit and the main road toward Sargans, then follow the signs.

Amenities & dining

• Restaurant
• Museum shop

Restaurant in the castle (according to the castle website Wednesday to Friday at lunch and dinner, Saturday and Sunday all day) with courtyard and picnic area; museum shop at the ticket desk.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Private parties
• Corporate events
• Weddings / ceremonies

For weddings, corporate events and other celebrations, the castle offers the district court chamber, the courtyard and the press cellar, among other spaces; inquiries via the castle website.

Plan your visit