Exhibition Space
Monks in the forest
Year-long Exhibition in the Exhibition Space of the Abbey Archives of St Gall
24 January 2025 to 22 January 2026
The forest was always a valuable resource for monasteries, but it also harboured dangers. It not only provided food, but also wood as a material for building, heating and crafts. Although it was a place of work and retreat, it was also a habitat for wild animals and shady characters.
The monastery of St.Gallen tried to regulate the use of its forests early on. This resulted in numerous contracts, boundary descriptions and occupational groups that protected and worked in the forest.
Opening hours
Monday to Sunday 10 am to 5 pm
28 April, 10 till 24 November and 24/25 December 2025 closed
Admission prices
CHF 18 | 16 | 12 | 10
Audio guide to the Abbey District
and the old town
D | E | F | I CHF 5
Plan of St Gall, around 825 (Stiftsbibliothek St.Gallen, Cod. Sang. 1092)
The Miracle of Transmission – The Plan of St Gall and Europe in the Early Middle Ages
Permanent exhibition in the exhibition space
The exhibition The Miracle of Transmission – The Plan of St Gall and Europe in the Early Middle Ages focuses on the unique abundance of early medieval documents in St Gall. Of particular interest are the legal documents preserved in the St Gall Abbey Archive. These include two confraternity books and the only profession book from the Carolingian period still preserved. Temporary exhibitions of thematically selected documents provide insights into everyday life in the Early Middle Ages.
In a separate room the
famous St Gall Abbey Plan is given pride of place. This plan is
considered to be the most important architectural drawing of the Middle
Ages. After an introductory multivision display, the plan can be viewed
in its original form for a few seconds. For conservation reasons, the
valuable document must be protected against overexposure to light.
Publication accompanying the exhibition
