Abbey of Saint Gall
The Abbey of Saint Gall (German: Abtei St. Gallen) is a dissolved abbey (747–1805) in a Catholic religious complex in the city of St. Gallen in Switzerland. The Carolingian-era monastery existed from 719, founded by Saint Othmar on the spot where Saint Gall had erected his hermitage. It became an independent principality between 9th and 13th centuries, and was for many centuries one of the chief Benedictine abbeys in Europe. The library of the Abbey is one of the oldest monastic libraries in the world.
| Cathedral of St Gall | |
|---|---|
| The Cathedral of Saint Gall | |
Kathedrale St. Gallen | |
View of the former abbey | |
| 47°25′23″N 9°22′38″E | |
| Location | St. Gallen |
| Country | Switzerland |
| Denomination | Catholic |
| Website | Website of the Cathedral |
| History | |
| Status | Active |
| Founded | 8th century |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Cathedral |
| Heritage designation | UNESCO World Heritage Site |
| Style | Baroque |
| Specifications | |
| Number of domes | 1 |
| Number of spires | 2 |
| Spire height | 68 m (223 ft) |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | Roman Catholic Diocese of Saint Gallen |
| Clergy | |
| Bishop(s) | Markus Büchel |
UNESCO World Heritage Site | |
| Criteria | Cultural: ii, iv |
| Reference | 268 |
| Inscription | 1983 (7th Session) |
The city of St. Gallen originated as an adjoining settlement of the abbey. The abbey was secularized around 1800, and in 1848 its former church became St. Gallen Cathedral, the seat of the Diocese of Saint Gallen. Since 1983 the abbey precinct has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site.