Stiftsbezirk St. Gallen

About the museum

The Stiftsbezirk goes back to the Irish monk Gallus, who withdrew in 612 to the high valley of the Steinach. His hermitage became the starting point for a monastic community that adopted the Rule of St. Benedict in 747. In the 9th century, Abbot Gozbert had a new monastery complex built; around 820 the famous St. Galler Klosterplan (St. Gall Monastery Plan), a Carolingian ideal drawing of a monastery, came to St. Gallen. In the later Middle Ages the flourishing town broke away from the abbey; under Abbot Ulrich Rösch (1463–1491), the monastic state with the Fürstenland and the Toggenburg came into being.

The present Baroque complex with the cathedral and the Abbey Library marks the conclusion of this thousand-year monastic history; the Baroque Hall of the library was built between 1758 and 1767. In 1805 the newly founded canton dissolved the monastery. Since then, the government and administration of the canton of St. Gallen, as well as the bishop of the diocese created in 1823, have been housed in the buildings, and the former monastery church became the cathedral. In 1983 UNESCO listed the Stiftsbezirk as one of the first Swiss cultural properties on the World Heritage List; the Abbey Archive and the Abbey Library are also part of the Memory of the World register with their holdings.

For visitors, three exhibition venues are combined under one combined ticket: the Abbey Library with its Baroque Hall and manuscript displays that change annually, the vaulted cellar with the permanent exhibition “Gallus und sein Kloster” (Gallus and His Monastery), and the exhibition hall of the Abbey Archive, where the monastery plan can be seen in its original form. The offering is complemented by the cathedral, an audio guide and guided tours.

Highlights

• UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1983 with a Baroque monastery complex
• Baroque Hall of the Abbey Library (1758–1767) with manuscripts over a thousand years old
• St. Galler Klosterplan (around 820) in its original form in the Abbey Archive exhibition hall
• Permanent exhibition “Gallus und sein Kloster” in the vaulted cellar, with the Evangelium Longum
• Baroque cathedral and audio guide through the Stiftsbezirk and old town in four languages

Permanent exhibitions

• Gallus und sein Kloster – 1400 Jahre Kulturgeschichte – Original manuscripts and objects lead from the hermitage of Gallus to the World Heritage Site Stiftsbezirk; the highlight is the Evangelium Longum with the sumptuous binding of the monk Tuotilo from around 895, along with capitals from the Gozbert Basilica and the Baroque model of the monastery church.
• Das Wunder der Überlieferung – Der St. Galler Klosterplan und Europa im frühen Mittelalter – Charters, confraternity books and the book of professions of the Abbey Archive show the living worlds of the early Middle Ages; in a separate room, the St. Galler Klosterplan can be seen in its original form for a few seconds after a multimedia presentation.
• Barocksaal der Stiftsbibliothek – The late Baroque library hall with manuscripts in display cases is the main room of the Abbey Library; the selection of manuscripts on show changes annually.

Founded

1767

Operated by

Stiftsbibliothek St. Gallen und Stiftsarchiv St. Gallen

Admission & discounts

The combined ticket covers the Abbey Library, the vaulted cellar and the exhibition hall. Free admission is available with the Swiss Museum Pass, the Raiffeisen Member card, the Swiss Travel Pass, the St. Galler Museums-Pass, OSKAR and the Bodensee Card PLUS, for members of ICOM and VMS and of the Freundeskreis der Stiftsbibliothek (Friends of the Abbey Library), as well as for school classes from the cantons of St. Gallen and Appenzell Ausserrhoden (pupils under 18). Free tickets are obtained on site at the museum shop; online-purchased tickets are not refunded.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• 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

All exhibitions are wheelchair-accessible; an in-house wheelchair can be borrowed. Further accessibility information is provided by Pro Infirmis.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide

The puzzle set “Das verschwundene Pergament” guides families with a bear as companion through the Stiftsbezirk and the exhibitions (recommended from age 9 accompanied by an adult, about 2 hours, in German, French and English, available at the two museum shops; a bag of aids against ID deposit). In addition, events for children and families are offered, such as writing as in the Middle Ages, treasure hunts and workshops, according to the events calendar.

Getting there & parking

The “Stiftsbezirk” stop is directly next to the Abbey Library.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Museum shop

Monastery bistro in the Stiftsbezirk (separate operator); two museum shops (Abbey Library and exhibition hall).

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit