The Abbey Library of Saint Gall, located in St. Gallen, Switzerland, is the oldest in Switzerland and 3rd oldest and most important library in the world.
Founded in 612, it has been a center of knowledge and learning for over 1,400 years.
History Of The Library
The library was established by Saint Othmar, the founder of the Abbey of St. Gall.
Remarkably, during a devastating fire in 937 that razed the Abbey, the library’s invaluable manuscripts survived intact.
The current library hall, designed by Peter Thumb, was built in a stunning Rococo style between 1758 and 1767.
The entrance door dates back to around 1781 and is attributed to the sculptor Franz Anton Dirr.
Above the entrance, a Greek inscription reads “ΨΥΧΗΣ ΙΑΤΡΕΙΟΝ,” which means “Healing Place of the Soul” or “Soul Pharmacy.”
In 1983, the Abbey Library, along with the Abbey of St. Gall, was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Treasures of the Library
The Abbey Library holds a vast and precious collection.
It houses nearly 160,000 volumes, including a trove of incunabula— books printed before 1500 and about 2,100 manuscripts from the 8th to the 15th centuries.
This includes works from Ireland, Carolingian, and Ottonian periods.
One of the notable items is the manuscript B of the Nibelungenlied, an important medieval epic.
The library’s manuscripts are displayed in glass cases, each with a carved cherub that hints at the type of content inside.
For example, the case for astronomy books features a cherub with a telescope.
Books published before 1900 can be read in a special reading room.
Digital Access
To make these precious manuscripts more accessible, the Abbey Library has developed a virtual library called Codices Electronici Sangallenses.
This project, now part of e-codices, includes over 600 digital manuscripts available online, allowing people from around the world to explore its collection.
Special Artifacts
One of the library’s highlights is a giant globe dating back to 1571.
Standing over 2 meters tall and 1.2 meters wide, it shows both the heavens and the earth in incredible detail.
The original globe was stolen in 1712 by Zurich troops and is now housed in the Swiss National Museum.
A detailed replica, made by 50 people over 7,000 hours, is on display at the library.
Exploring the Abbey Complex
The Abbey complex is also worth a visit. It includes:
- The Cathedral: Known for its beautiful Baroque architecture.
The Cathedral of St. Gallen serves both as the parish church for the local community and the main church for the Diocese of St. Gallen, which was established in 1847.
It stands on the site where the Irish monk Gall built his hermitage in 612.
The Cathedral and the surrounding baroque Abbey complex were constructed in the mid-18th century.
In 1805, the newly formed Canton of St. Gallen dissolved the abbey and took over the management of church properties through the Catholic Denomination of the canton.
- The Vaulted Cellar: Offers insights into the life of Saint Gallus and the history of the monastery.
- The Exhibition Space: Features the original abbey plan from 825, an important medieval architectural drawing.