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St. Gallen

St.-Gallen-Travel-Guide-Travel-S-Helper

The vibrant city of St. Gallen, in central Switzerland, also serves as the canton’s capital. Comprising a population of almost 167,000 as of 2019, it is the largest urban agglomeration in eastern Switzerland and features a varied spectrum of historical, cultural, and modern elements. Originally founded as a hermitage in the 7th century, Saint Gall has developed into a thriving city that skillfully blends its ancient past with contemporary relevance while still strongly anchored in its centuries-old customs.

About 612 AD, early in the Middle Ages, the Irish monk Gallus established a hermitage in the Steinach Valley. St. Gallen’s beginnings were here. Over time, this little town grew into a Benedictine abbey, which profoundly affected the spiritual and cultural growth of the surrounding region. Now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Abbey of Saint Gall is the gem in St. Gall’s architectural and cultural crown and evidence of the city’s enormous historical significance.

St. Gallen evolved over the centuries from a religious center to a bustling commercial center. Particularly with its beautiful lace and embroidery, the city’s textile business grew well-known and much sought for all around Europe. Driven by its economic prosperity, this city’s urban scene and social fabric show the permanent marks of its growth and development. The industrial past of St. Gallen is preserved by its museums and historic buildings, which also give visitors an insight into the skill and inventiveness that molded the local economy in the past.

While flourishing in the modern era, St. Gallen has kept its cultural identity and changed its economy to concentrate on services in reaction to the changing global economy. These days, the service industry drives the city’s economy; it has also grown to be a major center for banking, education, and technology. Establishing St. Gallen as a progressive city that collaboratively supports innovation, talent, and investment by working with other Swiss and international companies has been made possible in great part by this transformation.

Among the most eminent universities that have helped St. Gallen reach its present degree of renown is the University of St. Gallen. The institution is among the best in Europe thanks in great part to its innovative business courses and outstanding faculty members. Attracting professionals and students from all around the world, this esteemed university not only strengthens the intellectual capacity of the city but also generates an interesting environment that ties theoretical study with practical business uses.

The linguistic terrain of St. Gallen reflects the several cultural fabric of Switzerland. Though Swiss Standard German is the official language, residents daily use a range of Alemannic Swiss German. Embodying the greater Swiss legacy of multilingualism and cultural diversity, this linguistic duality gives the city’s cultural character a unique taste. The melodic cadence of the local dialect often appeals to guests to St. Gallen as a living link to the historical and cultural roots of the area.

St. Gallen has profited much from and still does from its favorable location over its history. The first-rate transportation choices of the city link it to both Germany and Austria as well as the rest of Switzerland. St. Gallen’s handy location has made it even more significant as a regional center and allowed it to completely engage in the European economic and cultural scene. Apart from its gorgeous surroundings and classic Swiss culture, the city serves as a gateway to the famous Appenzellerland area, which attracts tourists on its own right.

With its great Baroque construction and world-class library, the Abbey of Saint Gall is the cultural gem of St. Gall. Both historians and scholars will find great value in the abbey library’s outstanding collection of mediaeval books and manuscripts going back to the ninth century. This amazing library and archives not only attract academics and students but also attract tourists, offering a real link to the intellectual and spiritual life of mediaeval Europe.

Swiss franc (CHF)

Currency

612 AD

Founded

+41 71

Calling code

75,833

Population

39.41 km² (15.22 sq mi)

Area

German

Official language

675 m (2,215 ft)

Elevation

CET (UTC+1) / CEST (UTC+2)

Time zone

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