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ES: San Galo | PT: São Galo | CZ: Svatý Havel
RU: Санкт-Галлен (Sankt-Gallen) | SR: Сент Гален (Sent Galen)

Sankt Gallen is named after the Celtic missionary Gallus who built his hermitage here in AD 612. Saint Othmar (d. 759) was abbot of the monastery in the 8th century. The Benedictine abbey of St. Gallen became an important centre of learning and culture in the 9th and 10th century. The library of medieval manuscripts is world-famous. The first mentioning of St. Gallen in a document as a market town is found in 1170. During the 14th and 15th century the linen industry and trade flourish and became an important oeconomic factor for the town. During the Appenzell Wars of Independence the citizens form an alliance with the peasants against the abbey. The town joined the Swiss Confederation in 1454. The second foundation of the abbey in 1468 marked the beginning of a second 'golden age' of the abbey. However, in 1529 the Reformation is introduced in St. Gallen by Joachim von Watt, called Vadian. St. Gallen became the capital of the newly founded canton of the same name in 1803. The monastery of St. Gallen was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1983 (see also list of other UNESCO heritage sites).

The Broderbrunnen (Broder fountain) was erected in 1896 to commemorate the improvement of the water supply of St. Gallen by water brought into the town from Lake Constance in 1895. The fountain is named after judge Hans Broder, whose legacy made it possible to pay for the fountain. The figures of the fountain were made by galvanic copper metallization of plaster figures, a technique which was popular at that time because it was cheaper than bronze casting. In 1998, the figures were removed and are being replaced by a bronze casting copy. The originals are to be exhibited in the art museum of St. Gallen.

In 1992 the city of St. Gallen was awarded the Wakker Prize of the Swiss Heritage Society for the development and preservation of its architectural heritage. Other cities that have been awarded this prize and which are depicted on glasses of this collection are: Basel (1996), Bern (1997), Genève (2000), Montreux (1990), Solothurn (1980), Stein am Rhein (1972), Wil (1984).