St Gallen

Capital of St Gallen canton, Switzerland, situated just south of Lake Constance; population (2001 est) 68,700. The town has an ancient abbey and a baroque cathedral. St Gallen is also an industrial centre specializing in embroidered cotton textiles and nylon.

The town of St Gallen grew up around a Benedictine monastery founded in the 7th century by the Irish missionary St Gall. The abbey houses a library containing many valuable early manuscripts and printed books.

St Gallen

Canton in northeastern Switzerland; area 2,014 sq km/778 sq mi; population (2001 est) 476,100. It is mountainous in the south, near its border with Graubünden, but has gentler hills in the northern region around Lake Constance. It entirely surrounds the demi-cantons of Appenzell Ausser-Rhoden and Appenzell Inner-Rhoden. The capital is St Gallen. The chief industry is the manufacture of textiles. The main farming activity is dairying, supplemented by cattle-rearing on the Alpine pastures. There are numerous health and winter-sports resorts.

Textiles made here include cotton, lace, nylon, woollens, linen, and embroidery. The population is predominantly German-speaking and Roman Catholic.