Abbey Library of St. Gall
Stiftsbibliothek St. Gallen
The heart of the World Heritage St. Gall Abbey complex, whose Rococo-Baroque hall is widely considered one of the world’s most beautiful libraries, holding medieval manuscripts.
The library dates back to the abbey founded in the 8th century and is one of the oldest libraries in the world still in use. It was inscribed as a World Heritage Site together with the abbey complex in 1983. The current Rococo Hall was built between 1758 and 1767 and is extraordinarily ornate, with walnut and cherrywood bookcases, a painted ceiling and inlaid wooden floors. The collection holds about 170,000 volumes. Exhibits include medieval illuminated manuscripts and an Egyptian mummy. Visitors must put on felt overshoes to protect the floor, and photography is not allowed in the hall. Admission costs about CHF 18, which includes the vaulted crypt exhibition hall and the exhibit featuring the “Plan of the Abbey of St. Gall.” It is generally open from about 10:00 to 17:00 each day, with occasional closures on some public holidays. The library is about a 10-minute walk from St. Gallen train station.
Opening hours
10:00–17:00 (check official website)
Nearby sights
- St. Gallen Old Town & Oriel Windows
- St. Gallen Cathedral
- St. Laurenzen Church
- Textile Museum St. Gallen
- Stadtlounge
- Kunstmuseum St. Gallen
- Drei Weieren & Mühleggbahn
- Wildpark Peter und Paul