The charming town of Wil is the second largest concentrated urban area in Eastern Switzerland after St.Gallen and even less well known as an excursion destination. The old town invites visitors to take their time wandering through its narrow streets. The Hof zu Wil used to be the residence of the St.Gallen abbots for many decades. Wil remained the undisputed property of the abbots until the abbey was dissolved in 1805 with one brief interruption. The historical region between Rorschach and Wil was first mentioned in 1580 as the “Alte Landschaft” or Old Landscape. The term Fürstenland, however, which refers to a historical territory of the Swiss canton of St.Gallen, corresponding to the modern districts of St.Gallen, Wil and Rorschach, was only used from the 18th century onwards and can be traced back to the abbots. At the time, the city was still part of the canton of Säntis and became part of the newly founded canton of St.Gallen in 1803.
Panoramic view from the Alpstein to Lake Constance
The old town of Wil is considered one of the best preserved in Eastern Switzerland. The eastern silhouette of the Stadtweier, the city pond, is striking. The pedestrian promenade invites visitors to take a leisurely stroll along the lake. The Wil weekly market is held on Saturdays. Local producers offer guests and locals a wide selection of regional products. A real highlight, however, is the tower of Wil. It takes just under 30 minutes to walk to the 38-metre-high wooden tower. It has a magnificent 360-degree panoramic view extending from the Alpstein, a subgroup of the Appenzell Alps, to Lake Constance. On a clear day, the summit of the highest mountain in Eastern Switzerland, the Säntis, can be seen in the distance as well as the shore of Lake Constance on the German side.
Interesting guided tour through the abbots' town
#lovestgallen-moments
in historic Wil.
