St. Gallen
The Swiss city of St. Gallen, with a population of around 76,000, is absolutely worth a detour from the Lake Constance Cycle Path. The city offers a wide range of cultural activities, and the historic city centre with its interesting Abbey District makes you want to go on a tour, where you can discover many pretty bay windows.
St. Gallen's rich history begins with the founding of a hermitage by the Irish wandering monk Gallus around the year 612. About 100 years later, the cathedral was built, bringing economic and cultural prosperity to the city. The textile production, especially the manufacture of lace, stood out. It enjoyed an outstanding reputation worldwide until its decline in the 1920s.
St. Gallen has also become famous as the "City of a Thousand Stairs". About 13,000 steps can be found in the city area. Visitors have it easier with the Mühleggbahn. The cable car connects the city center with the Drei Weieren recreation area. Near the top station begins a high-altitude path that offers a beautiful view of the city.
Many interesting excursions can be made from St. Gallen. The nearby Alpstein Mountains are ideal for hikes of various degrees of difficulty, leading up to the Säntis (around 2500 meters). The hilly landscape around the city is also a dream for ambitious cyclists - views of Lake Constance included.
Sights
A real treasure! The Abbey District (Stiftsbezirk) is the sight of St. Gallen. The former hermitage developed from the 8th century until the Middle Ages into one of the most important spiritual and cultural centers in Europe. Particularly worth seeing: the lavishly baroque-style Abbey Library, which houses an impressive collection of medieval manuscripts. Right next door: the collegiate church with its 68-meter-high twin towers - extremely attractive from the inside as well as the outside.
