Abbey of Saint Gall

The Abbey of Saint Gall in northeastern Switzerland was, from the 8th century until its secularisation in 1805, one of the most important monasteries in Europe and a perfect example of a great Carolingian foundation. At its heart lies the Abbey Library, among the oldest and richest in the world, holding thousands of manuscripts including the earliest-known architectural plan drawn on parchment — the famous 9th-century Plan of St Gall. Between 1755 and 1768 the conventual buildings were rebuilt in an exuberant Baroque style, and the abbey church, raised to a cathedral, dazzles with frescoed ceilings, pale green and gold decoration and a richly carved choir. Beside it, the Rococo reading hall of the library, with its inlaid parquet floor and carved galleries, is counted among the most beautiful rooms in the world. Reflecting twelve centuries of continuous activity, the Abbey of Saint Gall was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1983.