St. Gallen: Cultural History, Museums and Pond Trails

St. Gallen combines a clearly defined cultural and historical theme with a variety of routes and nature experiences. During your stay, you can explore collections and the history of the Abbey, as well as enjoy walks, ponds and a botanical garden.

Cultural History, Collections and Museums

Around 612, the wandering monk Gallus laid the foundation for the Abbey of St. Gallen. In 1983, the Abbey District of St. Gallen, together with the Abbey Library and the Abbey Archives, was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List. Today, the Abbey Library holds 170,000 books. Its history thus spans from the founding of the Abbey to its inclusion on the UNESCO list; the number of books also gives a tangible sense of the collection’s size.

The Textile Museum of St. Gallen offers a different collecting focus. It houses one of Switzerland’s most significant textile collections, featuring historical embroideries, handmade lace, non-European textiles, historic fabrics and costumes from several centuries. Anyone interested in textile crafts and a variety of materials will find a wide range of subjects here.

The Natural History Museum of St. Gallen offers themed trails with solutions and subject-specific museum kits that let visitors explore the exhibitions independently. A guided discovery tour of the exhibition is designed for the first cycle of primary school. It includes observing live wood ants, stroking a badger and encounters with dinosaurs.

Botanical Garden and Drei Weieren

Around 8,000 plant species from around the world grow across two hectares at the Botanical Garden of St. Gallen. The garden is divided into around 20 sections, including geographical and educational sections, as well as areas for useful plants and collections. Events, exhibitions and guided tours showcasing the garden’s plant treasures are held regularly. If you plan to attend a tour or event, check the specific dates in advance.

The Drei Weieren area encompasses the Mülenen Gorge, the Drei Weieren ponds and Notkersegg, and is an important local recreational area for the people of St. Gallen. Swimming and mini golf are available in the recreation area. The Mülenen Gorge trail starts in St. Gallen’s Old Town and follows the Steinach through shady greenery. The short and long circular trails around the Drei Weieren lead to viewpoints overlooking St. Gallen and Lake Constance.

The Mühleggbahn takes visitors from St. Gallen to the “Drei Weieren” ponds. As operations may change, it is worth checking the latest service information before your trip. This lets you factor in the ride when planning without assuming a particular timetable.

Old Town or Pond Trail Route

There are different tours to choose from when planning your time. A tour lasting around 1.5 hours takes in all the sights of the Old Town without museum visits. Pond Trail Route 2 takes 2 hours and 45 minutes and links Müleggweier, Drei Weieren, Wenigerweier, the former Rütiweier and Brandweier. Comparing the two makes the time required for each option clear: one explores the Old Town without museum visits, while the other is a hiking route featuring several named ponds.

Anyone looking for a playful way to explore the city can also consider the St. Gallen Play Trail. It is a public, freely accessible and free outdoor leisure activity in the city of St. Gallen and its surroundings. The Play Trail includes 65 play locations spread throughout the city. This number may change if locations are added or removed.

Discover more destinations: Eggersriet, Waldkirch, Gossau, Abtwil

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