St.Gallen in the Past: City Gates
As mentioned in the blog article A City of Gates and Walls, the city of St. Gallen was once surrounded by a massive wall and several gates. Here I’d like…
St.Gallen in the Past: The old paper mill | 1604
The old paper mill (Alte Papiermühle) at Kräzernstrasse 79 in St. Gallen is a monument to industrial history – and closely linked to St. Gallen Abbey Library Built in 1604…
H.R.Fricker – Rückgrat-Ortekataster
Since 1996, small brass plaques by H.R. Fricker have shaped the public space of St.Gallen. They bear inscriptions such as “Place of Idea”, “Place of Vision”, “Place of Irony”, or…
The UEFA Women’s EURO in Switzerland
In February 2019, I started writing my blog about the City of Saint Gallen (This is my Saint Gallen). In English, for locals, newcomers and tourists who want to experience…
St.Gallen in the Past: A City of Gates and Walls
Walking through the open squares and streets of St.Gallen today, it’s hard to imagine that the city was once completely enclosed by massive walls — with access strictly controlled through…
Fountain of Luck | Glücksbrunnen
On Kanzleigasse, near the Textile Museum, there is an old drawing fountain with a special legend surrounding it: anyone who throws a coin down and hits the bottom of the…
Arthur Bernhard Vogt | First «Stolperstein»
On September 28, 2023, the first Stolperstein in St. Gallen was laid to commemorate the tragic fate of Arthur Bernhard Vogt. This memorial stone is placed in front of his…
Henri Gisbert Geene | Sculptor
Henri Gisbert Geene (1865-1950) left his mark on the city of St. Gallen like almost no other. He lived in St.Gallen from around 1897 (?) to 1920 (?) and was…
St. Galler Brakteate
A bracteate is a thin coin that was minted on one side only. (Latin bractea = thin metal plate). The coin image that is depicted on the obverse is visible…
Johann Baptist Isenring | Daguerreotypist
Johann (1796 – 1860) heard about the daguerreotype in 1839 and ordered a camera in Paris. He was the first Swiss daguerreotypist and for me personally the most exciting artist…
111 Oriels
Do you know what the city of St.Gallen is famous for? Not only for their beautiful fabrics, the Open Air, the famous «Bratwurst», the beautiful Abbey Library or the Unesco…
Gallus | Irish monk
This is one of my favorite legends… In about 612, a group of Irish monks pilgrimage through Europe, led by Columban and arrived in the region of the lake of…
Saint Wiborada | Martyr & Anchoress
Saint Wiborada of Saint Gallen was the first woman formally canonized by the Holy See, by Pope Clement II in 1047. She was an anchoress, Benedictine nun and a martyr. She died in 926 and her feast day is…
Joachim von Watt (Vadian) | Reformer
Around 1500 St. Gallen is a self-confident imperial city with extensive trade relations. The Reformation offers her the opportunity to finally emancipate herself from the Abbey of St.Gallen. Joachim von…
Anna Heller | Last Witch
Anna Heller was the last witch to be burned in St.Gallen. She lived from 1630-1691. A street is named after her «Hellerstrasse» in «Bruggen». Nice to know: Only 20 streets…
Campus Galli (Messkirch DE)
Campus Galli is a Carolingian monastic community in Messkirch, Baden-Württemberg, Germany. The construction project includes plans to build a medieval monastery according to the early ninth-century Plan of Saint Gall using techniques from that era. On Campus Galli you…