The Abbey Library of Saint Gall is an UNESCO World Heritage Site

The Abbey Library of St. Gall is the oldest library in Switzerland, and one of the earliest and most important monastic libraries in the world.

Its extraordinary collection of books reveals the development of European culture and documents the cultural achievements of the Abbey of St. Gall from the 8th century to the dissolution of the monastery in 1805.

During the first few centuries of its existence, the abbey grew rapidly, becoming a flourishing spiritual and cultural centre, famous for its writings and the illumination of manuscripts. A number of the abbey's creative monks made important contributions to the cultural history of Europe.

For example, Wolfcoz, Folchart and Sintram were well-known illuminators of manuscripts. Then there were illustrious poets and musicians such as Ratpert, Tuotilo, Notker the Stammerer and the Ekkeharts, not to mention Notker the German, who was a master of the Old High German Language.

Between 1758 and 1767 the abbots Cölestin Gugger von Staudach and Beda Angehrn commissioned the building of the magnificent Baroque hall, which was then decorated and fitted out by master craftsmen from the region of Lake Constance. Today, the Baroque hall of the library is considered to be one of the finest of its kind.

The Abbey Library counts 150,000 volumes but its true treasure lies in the collection of manuscripts. Roughly 2000 manuscripts are kept here, more than 400 of them are over a 1000 years old. They testify that the monastery greatly helped to shape the culture of Europe.

Particularly special are the Irish-Celtic manuscripts. Although many of them were lost, the collection is one of the most significant in the world. Invaluable is also the Latin-German Dictionary that originated in 790; it is the oldest German book altogether.

Manuscripts of the Abbey Library - insights in the cultural accomplishments of St.Gallen

Indication of source: Abbey Library of Saint Gall

360° Abbey Library