St. Gallen Further

Onward and Upward

As I continuously say, Switzerland is ALL uphill, and St. Gallen is no exception. As is typical of every old significant city, it is built by a river - because that was crucial for transport before the Industrial Revolution - and usually there are fairly steep and high ridges on either side, up which the town grows. And one’s gents like to pick a restaurant with a view, so up we go. Yes, by foot. 

First one leaves the city center, outside the Cathedral grounds. 

And then STEPS, scores of steps, take one to this view over the city. 


That was just the beginning. More steps. More steep little roads. More steps. And pauses for pictures ( maybe a breather, too). 


Then, a choice: stay on the winding roads going up, or take the trail up the rocks. Well, of course…

A bunker (ubiquitous in Switzerland)

Hills, ridges, river banks come with waterfalls. These were put to use with whole collections of mills powered by the water.

A not-natural bridge 

A natural bridge, worn through by the water

Supports for the mills above

Steep? Yes.

A Weiher, that is, a holding pond, one of a series, high on the ridge. Downstream from it were many mills using the moving water. They produced all sorts of goods with machines powered by the moving water.  You can read the sign explaining it:

Noodles, Flour, and Bobbins. These mills were in existence since medieval times, and a couple lasted to the 1960’s. 



The top is getting closer, but we aren’t there yet, so to be continued.