map →

Bad Ragaz is situated at an altitude of 516 m in the Tamina valley in the canton of Sankt Gallen. The municipality has a population of about 5,150 (2007) and is the tourist centre of the Sarganserland region.

Ragaz originally was a small rural village. Its importance increased when the prince abbots of Pfäfers built a palais as vicegerency. Furthermore, Ragaz was located at an important trading route between Germany and Italy. During the Old Zurich War (Toggenburg War of Succession; 1440–1450) Ragaz was the site of an important battle which took place on 6th March 1446. In this battle, the Swiss troops defeated the Austrian army. The battle also ended the war, which was confirmed by the Peace of Einsiedeln in 1450. After the dissolution in 1838 of Pfäfers abbey, the canton of St. Gallen took over the monasterial properties and the thermal spring in the Tamina gorge. In the 19th century, the thermal waters (36.5°C) were brought to Ragaz by a pipeline and thus Ragaz became a spa place, especially after 1868 when the Ragaz domains were sold off to a private investor. In 1937 Ragaz was renamed Bad Ragaz, to confirm its status as a spa.