St. Gallen a relaxed and conservative provincial city and is located
at the most northeastern part of Switzerland. Bordering on Lake Constance in the
north and on the Rhine River in the east, it surrounds the entire canton of
Appenzell. The south is fairly mountainous, and the north is mainly a
meadowland. Wine and fruit are produced. The canton is especially known for its
lace embroideries and silk and cotton textiles. Other manufactures include
textile machinery, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, pyrotechnics, matches, chocolate,
optical goods, felt, and paper. Tourism is also a major industry, with many
winter and summer resorts. Its inhabitants are mainly German-speaking.
When driving between Switzerland and Austria or Liechtenstein, allow an extra
night in St. Gallen. Stroll through the traffic-free Old Town and visit St.
Gallen's town square, the baroque cathedral and the world-renowned
Stiftsbibliothek, the abbey library, which has an excellent collection of
medieval manuscripts. If time permits, use St. Gallen as a base to explore the
surrounding area, including Lake Constance and the nearby Appenzell region.
230,000 people employed in the commercial and industrial sectors offer a
cross-border labour market with a highly qualified and internationally oriented
workforce. This is due to the excellent education received from the University
of St. Gallen, the most important economic university in Europe and the
polytechnical and business schools in the region.