St. Gallen Cathedral

St. Gallen Cathedral is the principal Roman Catholic cathedral in the city of St. Gallen, Switzerland, notable for its 18th-century baroque architecture and prominent twin-tower silhouette within the old town.

The cathedral and the adjoining abbey precinct form a compact architectural ensemble that draws attention for its baroque interior and the historic abbey library. The abbey complex is an important local landmark and a destination for those interested in ecclesiastical architecture and manuscript collections.

The cathedral stands on the site of the medieval Abbey of Saint Gall, a monastic foundation associated with the Irish monk Saint Gall; the abbey developed in the early Middle Ages and was a major centre of learning and manuscript production. The present cathedral and much of the visible baroque fabric date from an 18th-century rebuilding of the abbey church.

The complex sits in the centre of the city of St. Gallen in northeastern Switzerland, within the historic core and close to the modern civic centre; the city is roughly 80 kilometres east of Zürich.

• World Heritage Site: Listed as part of the Abbey of Saint Gall UNESCO World Heritage Site, recognised for its cultural and architectural ensemble.
• Abbey library: The abbey library contains a significant collection of medieval manuscripts and early printed books that reflect the monastery's historical importance as a medieval centre of learning.

What to See #

• Abbey Library (Stiftsbibliothek): Historic abbey library housing one of Europe's important medieval manuscript collections, located immediately adjacent to the cathedral within the abbey precinct.
• Cathedral building: The baroque cathedral building with twin towers forms the focal point of the former abbey complex that dominates the old town skyline.