monastery of Saint-Gall
Quick Summary
The Monastery of Saint Gall, located in Sankt Gallen, Switzerland, has its origins in a hermitage founded around 612 CE by the Irish monk Saint Gall. Disciples joined him, and by approximately 720 CE, it became a Benedictine abbey under Abbot Otmar. For a time, the abbey school was a leading educational institution north of the Alps, and its scriptorium was foundational to its renowned library. The town that grew around the abbey was initially ruled by abbots who were princes of the Holy Roman Empire. The abbey and town eventually allied with the Swiss Confederation. The town became the capital of a new canton in 1803 when the abbey was disendowed. Today, the former monastic buildings include the Baroque abbey church, now a Roman Catholic cathedral, and a library housing numerous manuscripts and early printed books.12
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Sankt Gallen…the foundation became a Benedictine abbey under Abbot Otmar. Until the 11th century, the abbey school was the most important educational institution north of the Alps, and in its scriptorium were laid the foundations of the world-famed library. The town that developed around the abbey was ruled by the abbots,…
Read More…the foundation became a Benedictine abbey under Abbot Otmar. Until the 11th century, the abbey school was the most important educational institution north of the Alps, and in its scriptorium were laid the foundations of the world-famed library. The town that developed around the abbey was ruled by the abbots,…
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SwitzerlandUrban settlements, Sankt Gallen) or around Roman settlements (e.g., Zürich and Lausanne). Within the Alps of Vaud, Vevey and Montreux were sited on small deltas jutting into Lake Geneva that provided flat land near the mountainous north shore; in the Alps of Ticino, Locarno and
Read More, Sankt Gallen) or around Roman settlements (e.g., Zürich and Lausanne). Within the Alps of Vaud, Vevey and Montreux were sited on small deltas jutting into Lake Geneva that provided flat land near the mountainous north shore; in the Alps of Ticino, Locarno and
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