Gallusplatz (St. Gallen)

Gallusplatz is a small square in the old town of St. Gallen, a short walk from the abbey district. It takes its name from Gallus, the Irish monk who gave the town its name. According to tradition he came to the valley in the early seventh century, settled as a hermit, and was helped by a bear that brought him firewood, an animal that later became the town's heraldic emblem. A bear still appears on the city's coat of arms, and the story is one of the best-known in the region. The square is a reminder that the town grew up around a monastery and a saint's cell, not around a castle or a trading post.

The square is not as grand as the cathedral and library nearby, and that is part of its appeal. It is a place where the old town feels like a living neighbourhood, with tall, narrow houses, shuttered windows and the occasional carved or painted façade. St. Gallen is known for its oriel windows, called Erker, which project from the upper floors of many old houses and are often richly decorated, and a walk around the square and the nearby lanes is a good way to see them at close range. Many buildings date from the sixteenth to eighteenth centuries, when the town was prosperous from the linen and later the embroidery trade.

Because it lies at the edge of the abbey district, the square is a natural stop on a walk between the cathedral and the shops and cafés of the old town. You can reach it from Klosterhof in a few minutes, and the Abbey Library and the cathedral are close. The pedestrian streets nearby, such as Spisergasse and Marktgasse, have shops and restaurants, and the small lanes branching off lead to courtyards and passageways. The Textile Museum, which tells the story of the embroidery industry that made the city famous, is a short walk away, and the city park is not far either.

Gallusplatz has no entry fee, since it is a public space, and it is open at all hours. It is quiet in the morning and late evening and busier in the middle of the day when people pass through. As in most Swiss towns, events such as small markets or cultural activities are sometimes held in squares like this one, but the programme varies, so check locally rather than expecting something every day. The square suits walkers, photographers and anyone who prefers to see an old town through its streets and squares as well as its famous buildings.

Allow about fifteen minutes for the square itself, and longer if you use it as a stop in a longer walk. A good route starts at the cathedral, passes through the abbey precinct, continues to Gallusplatz and then follows the old town streets toward the main square and the railway station. Wear comfortable shoes, since the paving is uneven, and look up as you walk, because most of the interesting details are on the upper floors of the houses.