St. Gallen Monastery

719 – a century later, the Gallic settlement was revived by Otmar. This is how the Abbey of St. Gall came into being, which, with its imposing cathedral with two towers, became one of the most important intellectual centres in Europe. It was a cultural stronghold and a place of great radiance. Numerous manuscripts and documents from this golden age have been preserved. They are of central importance for research into the early Middle Ages. The St. Gallen monastery plan – the oldest preserved architectural plan in Europe – and the oldest German dictionary are among the most precious treasures. Numerous manuscripts were created in the monastery and remain there to this day. The Abbey Library, built in 1758, is one of the most beautiful historical book halls in the world and a major tourist attraction. The library, which is still active today, contains around 170,000 books. Particular highlights include the over two-metre-high globe from the 16th century and the Egyptian mummy of Schepenese, which has been in the library's possession since 1836, together with its sarcophagi. Its lifetime is estimated to be from around 650 to 610 BC. From an architectural point of view, the library is a real treasure trove: the magnificent, curved hall with its ornamented inlaid floors, wood-panelled bookcases adorned with columns and richly stuccoed ceiling paintings is a baroque work of art. UNESCO declared the Abbey District with the Abbey Library a World Heritage Site in 1983.

How to get there: take the Voralpen-Express to St. Gallen.