The Plan of St. Gall a study of the architecture & economy of & life in a paradigmatic Carolingian monastery |
| II. |
 | V. |
 | VI. |
| VI. 1. |
| VI.I.I. |
| VI.1.2. |
| VI.1.3. | VI.1.3 |
| VI.1.4. |
| VI. 2. |
| VI. 3. |
| VI. 4. |
| VI. 5. |
| VI.6. |
 | The Plan of St. Gall |  |
VI.1.3
THE CLOISTER
It is clear that the cloister lay to the south of the church
where it still is today (although completely rebuilt), and it
is equally clear that the dormitory occupied the upper level
of the eastern range which adjoined the southern transept
arm precisely as on the Plan of St. Gall. This can be
inferred from Ekkehart's account of the ignominous visit
which Abbot Ruodman of Reichenau paid to the monastery
of St. Gall under the cover of night and the description
of the complicated route which he had to take in order to
get from the cloister to the monks' privy.[21]
From the same
ST. GALL. ABBEY CHURCH. SUCCESSIVE STAGES
512.B
512.A
A.
PLAN OF ABBOT GOZBERT'S CHURCH OF 830-837 AS RECONSTRUCTED BY AUGUST HARDEGGER
[after Hardegger, 1917, plate facing p. 521]
B.
PLAN OF THE ABBEY CHURCH AS RECORDED BY PATER GABRIEL HECHT IN 1725-26
[after Hardegger, loc. cit.]
512.C ST. GALL. ABBEY CHURCH. LONGITUDINAL SECTION OF 1626-1756 AS RECONSTRUCTED BY
AUGUST HARDEGGER ON THE BASIS OF GABRIEL HECHT'S DRAWINGS OF 1725-26 (FIGS. 511.A-C)
[after Hardegger, 1922, 139]
FIGURES 512. A, B, C ARE SAME SCALE (CA.1:700)
Bays 3-9 of the nave and aisles were built by Gozbert and are the oldest parts, dating from 830-837. Otmar's church, dedicated 24
September 867, located west of Gozbert's church was originally separated from it by an entrance hall surmounted by St. Michael's chapel
which was dedicated 25 September 867 (cf. figs. 513.A-B, and figs. 507-509). The choir was entirely built by Eglolf, 1439-1483, on a ground
area co-extensive with the transept and choir of Gozbert's church that had been damaged by fire in 1418. In 1623-26 St. Michael's chapel
was demolished and Gozbert's church was enlarged westward by two bays, thus extending it all the way to Otmar's church.
the entrance of the church, as we would expect it to be in
the light of the Plan of St. Gall. Ekkehart IV mentions a
warming room (pyrale) in a context which suggests that in
the tenth and early eleventh century it was used for disciplinary
actions traditionally undertaken during chapter
meetings.[22] In the same chapter he also implies that the
washhouse (lavatorium) was reached from the warming
room; in fact the text seems to suggest that it was part of
this room. In departure from the Plan of St. Gall, however,
the Scriptorium was not on the north side of the church
but next to the pyrale.[23]
We know nothing about the location of the refectory
or the cellar but there is no reason to presume that they
were laid out in a manner other than that proposed on the
Plan. The Carolingian refectory and dormitory perished
in the great fire of 1418 and were completely rebuilt by
Abbot Eglolf (1427-1442).[24]
| The Plan of St. Gall | |