Exhibition Space
Abducted documents – odysseys of transmission
Annual Exhibition in the Exhibition Space of the Abbey Archives of St Gall
26 January 2024 to 22 January 2025
Archives have their own fates, too. Although the Abbey of St Gall has always taken great care of its indispensable legal documents, parts of the Archives were lost due to war, theft and neglect.
Some of the records believed to be lost reappeared after decades, in some cases even centuries, and returned to their original home, the Abbey Archives of St Gall. The 2024 annual Exhibition in the Exhibition Space of the Abbey Archives is dedicated to these «abducted documents» and their odysseys across Europe.
Opening hours
Monday to Sunday 10 am to 5 pm
22 April, 11 till 25 November and 24/25 December 2024 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
