Past & Present

The Abbey of St Gall began its existence in 612 as a personal cell for The Abbey Archives and Abbey Library have their own stories to tell, the saint and was dissolved in 1805. Its chequered history lasting well over a thousand years demonstrates an extraordinary continuity in the and today these too are at the core of the World Heritage site. face of change, which persisted even after dissolution. Preserved in the Abbey Library are major artefacts reflecting the history of Western civilization since Late Antiquity, including the famous Plan of St Gall. The Abbey Archives with their early medieval records are another unique treasure..

612 after 640 719 747 818 830 – 837 820 – 920 926 937 971 1270 1314

Gall After Gall's Otmar, the first The abbey The abbey Abbot Gozbert «Golden Age»: Magyar raid: A fire started Abbot Notker More than 900 A devastating fire builds a cell death abbot, develops adopts the acquires builds the the abbey the foresight by a pupil completes the noblemen from sweeps through both in the mountain his tomb the community Rule imperial status, Carolingian experiences an of the recluse causes walled enclosure Southern town and abbey. valley of the becomes a into a formal of Benedict. marking its Minster. economic and Viborada major damage around the Germany meet River Steinach. magnet for- convent. independence cultural saves the to the abbey. abbey for a Knights' local people. heyday. abbey from settlement, Festival in from local more heinous and the town of St.Gallen. overlords. losses and she St.Gallen dies a martyr. takes shape.

1403 – 1405 1418 1451 1468 1526 – 1532 1529 1532 1551 1570 1602 1712

Appenzell Wars. Another fire The Abbey of The Country of The Iconoclasm in After the The foundation Cardinal Carlo St Gall as a Toggenburg War. and and the ravages the St Gall becomes Toggenburg is prevails in the St Gall Minster. Catholics win a stone is laid for Borromeo visits driving force occupy the prince-abbot’s territories. town of St.Gallen town and an associate purchased by town of St.Gallen. The abbot and military victory a new library, the Abbey of joins other The abbot and monks flee across the seek greater abbey. member of the Abbot Ulrich monks leave at Kappel, completed in- St Gall, an event abbeys to form border, only returning to the abbey in political autonomy. Swiss Rösch. the town. Diethelm Blarer 1553. memorized by the Swiss 1718 after the Treaty of Baden. The battles of Confederacy. is restored as the name Benedictine Vögelinsegg (1403) abbot and Charles' Gate. Congregation. and Stoss Pass territorial (1405) are fought overlord. nearby.

1756 1758 –1767 1767 – 1769 1805 1813 1847 1983 2012

The foundation Construction of a Construction of The Grand Council of the newly Foundation of the Catholic Foundation of The abbey 1400th stone is laid for new library, the New Palace created Canton of St.Gallen votes Denomination Within the Canton of the Diocese of precincts are anniversary the new abbey today's Abbey with abbot's 36 to 33 to dissolve the Abbey of St.Gallen. The Canton transfers the St.Gallen. designated a of the arrival church, now the Library. chambers and St Gall, which had ceased to exist cathedral, abbey library and other UNESCO World of St Gall. cathedral, throne room (now de facto when French troops former abbey properties to this new Heritage site. completed in the government entered in spring 1798. entity under public law on religions. 1767. building with the hall of the Grand Council).