St. Gallen

We were introduced to the Fat Blue Angel watching over all the travelers in the Zurich train station.  We then boarded the train to the town of St. Gallen, the oldest city in Europe established in 812 AD.

Gallos was a Monk from Ireland looking for a secluded place where he could commune with God.  When he came into this valley he felt it was the right spot but he was approached by a brown bear.  He called for God’s help and then told the bear to fetch him wood for a fire and the bear obeyed.  That is why the bear is a symbol of the city.  

The city is renowned for its manufacturing of flax into linen. As much as 56% of their fabric was sold in the US until WWI.

During our city tour it was pointed out that highly decorated bay windows were a sign of wealth and power, some even named roads after the decor of the bay window.

One house had sculpted heads on the outside to represent the 5 known continents of that time. The fountain was created in 1895.

The city wall divided the city into Protestant and Catholic.  Since our guide was catholic, she took us inside her church, the one started by Saint Gallen.