In the canton of St. Gallen, cultural heritage meets a remarkably varied landscape. In the city of St. Gallen, the Abbey District offers a glimpse into the history of an important monastic complex; across the canton, nature ranges from the shores of Lake Constance and Lake Zurich, through the rolling foothills of the Alps, to high mountain ranges along the borders with Graubünden and Glarus. This variety gives a trip different points of focus: urban history, museums and routes through the landscape.

The Abbey District and textile history

The complex of St. Gallen Abbey includes the present-day Baroque cathedral and the Abbey Library. The abbey preserves Irish manuscripts from the 7th and 8th centuries, illuminated manuscripts from the St. Gallen school, and the ground plan of the Carolingian monastery. In the Abbey District, you can encounter both architectural history and a rich written heritage.

The Textile Museum St. Gallen traces another strand of regional history. It explores how eastern Switzerland shaped the fashion world of the 19th century; visitors can also see embroidery demonstrated on a hand embroidery machine from 1890. The open art museum offers a distinctive focus of its own: it specialises in Swiss outsider art, Art Brut and naïve art, and holds around 30,000 works.

The permanent exhibition at the Kunstmuseum St. Gallen features paintings and sculptures from the late Middle Ages to the present day. It is complemented by temporary exhibitions of modern and contemporary art. LOK, the museum’s second location, serves as a cultural laboratory for contemporary art. Together, the collection, changing exhibition programme and cultural laboratory offer different ways to engage with art. The Lokremise is also a site of cultural and historical significance: together with the 1902 bathhouse and Robert Maillart’s 1906 water tower, it forms an industrial monument of national importance. The Old Bath of Pfäfers is considered the oldest Baroque bathhouse in Switzerland.

Lakes, foothills and Sardona

The canton is in eastern Switzerland, not far from Lake Constance. Its landscapes also include areas along Lake Zurich, rolling foothills and high mountain ranges on the borders with Graubünden and Glarus. Mountain peaks and viewpoints sit alongside lakes, waterfalls, geological features and biotopes. The Sardona Tectonic Arena extends across the cantons of Glarus, St. Gallen and Graubünden; its geological features can be experienced and understood at first hand.

The range of activities reflects this variety, too. Lake Constance offers opportunities for various water sports in the canton of St. Gallen. An extensive, well-marked network of hiking trails and cycling routes runs throughout the canton. Hiking options range from walks by lakes and through the foothills to high Alpine areas; several long-distance hiking trails also pass through the region. For specific routes, it is worth checking the current route details, as conditions can vary locally.

Hiking or winter sports at Pizol

Pizol is a particularly clear example of a seasonal choice. In the south of the canton, it is one of the best-known ski areas; operating details depend on the season. In another season, the Five Lakes Hike passes five mountain lakes and offers views of the Sardona UNESCO World Heritage Site. Trail and lift conditions for this route are also seasonal. Pizol thus combines Alpine nature experiences with different activities, though they may not both be available at the same time.

For planning your trip, the canton also offers a general indication of its location: it lies on Europe’s north–south and east–west rail and road corridors. If you are looking for a hotel in St. Gallen, you can start by considering whether your trip will focus more on the Abbey District and museums or on hiking trails, lakes and mountain landscapes.

Discover more destinations: Werdenberg, Toggenburg, St. Gallen, Sarganserland, See-Gaster, Rheintal, Rorschach, Wil.

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