The city of culture

The city of culture

First-class culture from the traditional to the modern

Living side-by-side, tradition and modernity characterise every area of St.Gallen's outstanding cultural offering. The Abbey of St.Gall, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the old town with its alleys and more than 300 bay windows, are in perfect harmony with architecture by Santiago Calatrava, for example in the Pfalzkeller, the fountains and installations by Roman Signer on various buildings, and of course the "Stadtlounge". St.Gallen's many museums and galleries exhibit art of all genres. The Textile Museum and Swiss Museum of Naive Art in the Lagerhaus are absolute gems. Fans of classical music and operas will find what they are looking for in the Tonhalle concert hall, the St.Galler Festspiele and Theater St.Gallen, as will devotees of open-air and sacred music. Jazz, rock, pop, gospel and folk music festivals are also regularly staged at many venues. Theatre and dance, whether traditional, modern or alternative, also feature regularly in the city's cultural life.

The Tonhalle and Theater St.Gallen stage 400 productions every year for a wide audience. From autumn 2010 the new stages in the old locomotive shed will add to the venues. This coming summer the abbey grounds will provide the stage for a unique open-air opera and dance experience during the St.Galler Festspiele.

St.Gallen's varied cultural offerings also include the “Kellerbühne” with its ever-changing shows and the “Grabenhalle” and former “Palace” cinema. There, and in many clubs and bars, fans of jazz, rock and other styles will find what they are looking for.