Altstätten

20 July 2023

Altstätten (Canton of St. Gallen) has a rich history. The many beautiful medieval and baroque houses, as well as the Placidus chapel, bear witness to this past.

In 853, Altstätten was first mentioned in a document as “villa nominata altsteti” (villa named old place). The Monastery of St. Gallen owned numerous properties in Altstätten (the old town).

In the 13th century, Abbot Berchtold von Falkenstein (abbot from 1244-1272) fortified Altstätten with a wall to protect the town from the Counts of Montfort, who had settled on the right bank of the Rhine. From 1298, it became an officially recognised town. The name “Altstätten” appeared in 1444.

In the 18th century, Altstätten experienced an economic boom with the textile trade. Its prosperity can still be seen in the many baroque public buildings and private houses. Altstätten is also the carnival stronghold (Fasnacht) of the Rhine valley of St.Gallen.

(Source: www.altstaetten.ch).