Last Saturday afternoon Martin and I took the train to St. Gallen, the largest city in NE Switzerland. St. Gallen originated in 613 when an Irish monk, Gallus, chose the site for his hermitage. The Benedictine Abbey of St. Gall was founded there in 747 and when its library was established in the 9th century, St. Gallen became an academic and cultural center. It is now a UNESCO world heritage site. By the Middle Ages, the city was also well known for the production of fine linens and textiles and it continues to be a provider of exquisite fabric and embroidery today. Read more →