Exhibition Space

Year-long Exhibition in the Exhibition Space of the Abbey Archives of St Gall
27 February 2026 to 23 February 2027

Women have been playing an important role in religious life since the early Middle Ages. Recluses such as Wiberat (in Latin Wiborada, † 926) and Rachilt († 946) of St.Gallen lived in secluded cells and were recognized and revered as spiritual authorities.

In addition to these forms of individual piety, communal lifestyles also emerged in which women organized their daily lives around religion. This often led to the development of thriving convents, which in eastern Switzerland had close ties to the Princely Abbey of St Gall.

Flyer

Opening hours
Monday to Sunday 10 am to 5 pm
(July to September: Monday to Sunday 10 am to 6 pm)
20 April, 9 till 23 November and 24/25 December 2026 closed

Admission prices
CHF 18 | 16 | 12 | 10

Audio guide to the Abbey District
and the old town
D | E | F | I CHF 5

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