11 reasons to choose the St.Gallen-Lake Constance region
Switzerland’s hidden gem
A unique region with a rich cultural heritage, a metropolitan ambience and thrilling experiences in the great outdoors by the lake and in the mountains. The St.Gallen-Lake Constance region offers all the things the Swiss do best: hospitality, quality and, of course, chocolate, cheese and wine. Discover Switzerland’s hidden gem. Here’s the best part: all the sights and activities are within close reach.
Thanks to its location in the centre of Europe, the St.Gallen-Lake Constance region is easily accessible, with great infrastructure and a well-functioning public transport network.
1.
UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site Abbey District of St.Gallen
A St.Gallen «must see»: the Abbey District of St.Gallen has been a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site since 1983. The magnificent baroque cathedral, with its two prominent towers, has come to symbolise the city of St.Gallen. The Abbey Library of St.Gallen, which is located inside the Abbey Precinct, is also an unmissable attraction. It is one of the world’s oldest and largest monastery libraries.
2.
Centuries of history, woven in textiles
The St.Gallen-Lake Constance region is affectionately known as the «New York of Switzerland», because it has been at the top of its game (textiles, and especially lace) for centuries. The history and tradition of the St.Gallen textile industry goes back 800 years. St.Gallen loves textiles. You can feel just how much when you visit the textile museum or go on one of the textile trails.
3.
Regions full of variety
The St.Gallen-Lake Constance region is so varied there's something for everyone. Why not stroll through the historic streets of St.Gallen’s old town, relax on the shores of Lake Constance in Rorschach, explore the picturesque vineyards of the Rhine Valley, or spend some time in the abbey town of Wil? Soak up the local culture and warm hospitality.
4.
Relax and explore by bike
The region between Lake Constance and the Alpstein has some wonderful sights and great places to visit – and a bike or e-bike is the perfect way to explore: you can see Lake Constance and the Rhine dam, as well as beautiful flowering meadows, luscious fruit trees and breathtaking nature reserves. You can set your own pace. Choose a leisurely ride on the RheinWelten cycle paths, take a road bike or gravel bike on the «Lake and Alps» routes, or take the whole family on the Family Route – the St.Gallen-Lake Constance region has captivating cycle paths for all.
5.
Cheese, chocolate and mountains, all in a compact area
There are certain things that Switzerland is known for. Some might call them clichés. We prefer to think of them as quintessentially Swiss: Swiss chocolate, Swiss cheese and, of course, the mountains! In the St.Gallen-Lake Constance region, you can find all three attractions in close proximity to each other. At the Chocolarium, you can of course taste the chocolate, but that’s not all. You'll also discover the secret of how they put the happiness into the chocolate. No visit to Switzerland would be complete without a tour of a cheese dairy. Visit the Appenzeller® cheese dairy and learn all about the world-famous Appenzeller® cheese. And last but not least, the Säntis offers breathtaking views at 2,502 metres above sea level.
6.
A region for connoisseurs
St.Gallen has the best bratwurst and beer from the oldest brewery in Switzerland. If you enjoy a bratwurst with a beer, you’ll also love a crispy Bürli, and to finish on a sweet note, you can’t beat a St.Gallen Biber – these are the famous 4 Bs of St.Gallen! For a romantic dinner, head to one of the traditional first-floor beizli in St.Gallen’s old town. These restaurants are renowned for their great food and warm welcomes – real hidden gems. Menus in St.Gallen feature a wide variety of local products, such as ribelmais (traditional dry-milled corn) or the blue potato, as well as St.Gallen Rhine Valley wine. Experience Eastern Switzerland’s warm hospitality and delicious cuisine at one of our carefully selected restaurants, bars, or cafés and make your stay unforgettable.
7.
Top-tier entertainment and fun
St.Gallen is the perfect place for entertainment and fun! At the Konzert und Theater St.Gallen (theatre), you can enjoy a varied selection of dance performances, musicals and opera. This is Switzerland’s oldest professional theatre company. It presents its productions – including dazzling debut performances and world premieres – on the world’s greatest stages. Casino St.Gallen is the place to go for some thrills. Put your luck to the test in an elegant atmosphere. Feel the excitement of placing a bet in the casino, or soak up the local culture. Every moment in St.Gallen is an experience.
8.
St.Gallen, a city of museums
The city of St.Gallen has a wide range of museums that cover more than 1,400 years of cultural and economic history. Each of the more than ten museums has its own character and all are places of entertainment and enrichment, education and enquiry.
9.
Central and easy to reach
The St.Gallen-Lake Constance region is located right where Germany, Austria, the Principality of Liechtenstein and Switzerland meet – an idyllic region nestled between Lake Constance and the Alpstein Massif. You can reach the region quickly and easily from various hubs. For example, from Zurich, you can reach the city of St.Gallen – the heart of the region – in just one hour.
10.
First-class events of international renown
Every year, St.Gallen’s prestigious and memorable events attract visitors from all over the world. Longines CSIO St.Gallen is Switzerland’s official show jumping tournament and a must for equestrian sports enthusiasts. OpenAir St.Gallen is the only festival of its kind on the European festival scene. Music fans flock to it to experience outstanding live acts playing against the backdrop of a breathtaking nature reserve. At the prestigious St.Gallen Symposium, leading minds from the worlds of business, politics and science come together to discuss pioneering ideas. At kybunpark, football fans can watch FC St.Gallen 1879, the oldest football club in continental Europe, play thrilling matches. And Olma trade fairs St.Gallen is the venue for a wide range of exhibitions, trade fairs and consumer fairs. It also organises the most successful consumer trade fair in Switzerland, the OLMA.
11.
A sustainable destination
Once, sustainability was a niche topic – an afterthought – but now, hardly any other topic gets more attention, and this brings both challenges and opportunities for all areas of society. St.Gallen-Bodensee Tourism takes environmental, economic and social sustainability very seriously.
Have these 11 reasons convinced you?
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