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📍 St. Gallen Abbey Library

The Abbey Library of Saint Gall is located in St. Gallon, Switzerland. It is the oldest library in the country and has a large collection of precious manuscripts and cradle books. Readers familiar with me know that I love dome paintings, so when I discovered this place while browsing the Swiss Railway Guide, I decided I would definitely take a trip to St. Gallen no matter what!

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The Greek inscription “” above the entrance of the library means “a place of healing for the soul” and praises the power of literature to heal the soul. This gate seems to separate the modern world from this healing place, and once you walk in, it's a completely different landscape.

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The St. Gallen Abbey Library and Monastery are both United Nations World Cultural Heritage Sites, so special emphasis is placed on preserving the place. Every visitor is required to wear the cloth slippers provided to protect the wooden floor.

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The surviving Baroque building was built in 1767, and although it is located in Switzerland, the library dates back to medieval Irish roots. The name St. Gallen comes from the Irish missionary Gallus (Gallus), who founded St. Gallen Abbey in 612. Books played an important role in the life of Gallus. He actively collected manuscripts and expanded his collection, laying the foundation for the achievements of many artists and scholars in later generations.

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The dome painting in the Library Hall depicts the first four major conferences in Christian history, including the First Council of Nicaea, the First Council of Constantinople, the Council of Ephesus, and the Council of Gackerton. “The Council of Ephesus”, located in the center, was painted by German painter Joseph Wannenmacher (Joseph Wannenmacher). The conference mainly discussed the status of the Virgin Mary, which had a profound impact on later Christian doctrine. On the dome, you can also see Bible verses such as “Grant us all the truth.”

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The library contains a picture of 18th century abbot Cölestin II. Portrait painting by Gugger von Staudach. He initiated and oversaw the construction of St. Gallen's Cathedral, although he was unable to witness the completion of the church. His contributions to St. Gallen have had a profound impact today.

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The St. Gallen Abbey library has many treasures, and art, nature, and scientific specimens are used to enrich the library's book knowledge. The most famous of these is the large globe from 1576. This globe shows the Earth and the sky at the same time. The farther away you are from Europe, the more empty areas on the map reflect the level of perception of the world at the time.

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In addition to this, the library also has a large collection of medieval religious scripture manuscripts, historical documents, cradles (books printed before the 15th century), and maps. These collections have important historical and artistic values. These records will enable future generations to understand the knowledge and culture of the time.

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How do I get to St. Gallen Abbey Library?

A 10-minute walk from St. Gallen train station.
💡 Location: Klosterhof 6D, 9000 St. Gallen (Google Maps)Please click here)
💡 Official website:https://www.stiftsbezirk.ch/en/stiftsbibliothek
💡 Opening hours: 10AM — 5PM
💡 Swiss Rail Passes:Switzerland travel pass (Holders enjoy free admission to more than 500 museums)
💡 Flight ticket order：Use Skyscanner to compare airfares to Switzerland and find the best dates and times!

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