The Village and Propstei of St. Peterzell

29 August 2025

The village of St. Peterzell and the Propstei (provostry) of St. Peterzell (canton of St. Gallen) are located on the river Necker. The village owes its name to the provostry. Around 1050, the St. Peterzell Monastery was founded. The nobles of Illnau (in the Canton of Zurich) established it in honour of the Apostle Peter.

As early as the 11th century, three pilgrimage routes converged in St. Peterzell. The first mention of “cella sancti Petri” dates back to the year 1178. A relationship of possession and dependency developed between the Benedictine monastery of St. Johann and St. Peterzell.

The Abbey of St. Gall acquired the St. Johann Monastery in 1555, and with it, St. Peterzell. Subsequently, St. Peterzell gained the status of a provostry.

The neighbouring municipalities are Schwellbrunn (Canton of Appenzell Ausserrhoden) and Degersheim (Canton of St. Gall). Schwellbrunn is included in the register of “most beautiful villages in Switzerland”.

The small village of Au

The village of St. Peterzell