Discover St. Gallen
The Swiss Harvard
From medieval embroidery to renowned studies in economics
With a population of 75,500, Sankt Gallen is the eighth largest city in Switzerland and the capital of the German-speaking canton of the same name, inhabited by 504,686 people. This pretty quiet city was founded in the 7th century in the hermitage of an Irish monk, St. Gall. Over centuries, Sankt Gallen has won reputation for its famous embroidery and laces; in fact, the city’s textile traditions have survived from medieval times until this day, with numerous companies still actively representing the sector. The city is home to one of the renowned German-speaking universities, known all over the world for studies in economics and law and, and particular, for its "Strategy and International Management" faculty. The main tourist attraction is the 7th century Abbey of Saint Gall, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Abbey's renowned library contains one of the world’s richest collections of medieval books. There is also the St. Gall’s Cathedral, the Notkersegg Monastery and the Textile Museum with a marvellous collection.
Real estate: living in Sankt Gallen
Sankt Gallen is located 86 km from Zurich and the Zurich International Airport. Although the official language of the canton is German, the main spoken language is the local Alemannic dialect (St.-Galler-Deutsch). Located among Alpine pasturelands and forests, only a few kilometres from Lake Constance (German: Bodensee), the city enjoys an idyllic, picturesque landscape that allures hikers, skiers and water sports enthusiasts (in the summer). The University attracts young people, who fill up the local bars and restaurants when evening falls. The real estate market here is rather dynamic, which makes it easy to find a place to live. Beautiful houses or apartments in the old town or in modern buildings – there is certainly a lot to choose from, depending on the size of the seeker’s wallet. The most famous culinary speciality of the canton is St Galler Bratwurst, i.e. grilled sausage made of pork and veal with some milk added, served with onion sauce and potato pancakes (rösti). The city is also home to the Schuetzengarten Brewery, the oldest in Switzerland (founded in 1779). When in Sankt Gallen, remember to try St. Galler Alpkäse, a PDO cheese produced in the local pasturelands.
