Wanderyn
St. Gallen Old Town
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
poi · CH

St. Gallen Old Town

Getting around: St. Gallen's old town surrounds the abbey district and is directly adjacent to the train station, easily walkable across its entirety.
Hours: No fixed hours as an open district; shops keep standard hours and close Sundays.

St. Gallen's old town is known for its oriel windows (erker) — elaborately carved wooden and stone bay windows projecting from building facades, a distinctive local architectural tradition tied to the city's historic wealth from linen and textile trading. Beyond the abbey district's UNESCO sites, the surrounding streets are a genuinely pleasant, less crowded old town to wander than some of Switzerland's more heavily touristed centers.

It rewards looking up as much as ahead — the carved details on the oriel windows vary building to building, and a slow walk through the pedestrian streets around Marktplatz and Gallusplatz takes in a good cross-section of them.

St. Gallen Old Town FAQs

What are the oriel windows I should look for?

Elaborately carved wooden and stone bay windows (erker) projecting from building facades throughout the old town, a distinctive local architectural tradition.

How long do I need?

Two to three hours to walk the main streets and take in the abbey district.

Is it less crowded than other Swiss old towns?

Generally yes, it's a genuinely pleasant, less touristed old town compared to some of Switzerland's more heavily visited centers.

Where should I start a walk?

Marktplatz and Gallusplatz are good central starting points, close to the abbey district.

Why did St. Gallen become so wealthy historically?

Its historic linen and textile/embroidery trade, which funded much of the old town's architecture — the Textilmuseum covers this history in detail.

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