By no means an exhaustive list, this post brings together some of the best libraries in Europe, in part one of a two part post, in a series of astounding libraries throughout the world. From stunning beauty to unbeatable history, these libraries are sure to provide some outstanding library inspiration:
The Library of Trinity College
The Library of Trinity College in Dublin, dates back to 1592 and is easily the most breathtaking library in all of Ireland. The library is actually a legal deposit library, housing a copy of all works published in Ireland. The Long Room (seen above) is the main chamber of the library and measures in at 65 meters in length, hosting 200,000 of the library’s oldest books. Standing at the end of each bookcase is an antique marble bust of various writers, philosophers and philanthropists from history, in 2020 the long line of celebrated male figures were finally joined by four female figures; Mary Wollstonecraft, Ada Lovelace, Augusta Gregory and Rosalind Franklin. The library is currently closed as it undergoes a €90m restoration project.
Admont Abbey Library
Admont Abbey Library is a private library located within the Benedictine monastery of the same name in southern Austria. The wedding cake-esque library is believed to be the largest monastic library in the world and contains 200,000 volumes, including 70,000 within the main Joseph Hueber-designed confection. The 13 meter-high ceiling features frescoes by Bartolomeo Altomonte, which are said to depict the various stages of human knowledge including ‘Divine Revelation’. The white and gold baroque walls almost glow from the light of the 48 windows lining the 70-meter room.
Klementinum Library
The stunning Baroque Hall housed within the fairytale city of Prague’s Klementinum Library; The National Library of The Czech Republic, formerly formed part of what used to be the world’s oldest Jesuit college. The carefully crafted hall (seen above) combines baroque architecture with neo-gothic style, resulting in a fairytale spectacle. Within the collection are Latin manuscripts dating back to the 11th century.
Château de Chantilly Reading Room
The Reading Room at Château de Chantilly in France, houses a neat-but-extensive library featuring some of the world’s oldest manuscripts. Collected over the centuries by princes and dukes, the library consists of 19,000 volumes, featuring manuscripts dating back to the 10th century. The learned content is reflected in the scholarly surroundings, built during the Renaissance by Honoré Daumet, including features such as an ‘invisible’ staircase leading to the gallery, and leather-trimmed shelving to protect the delicate volumes.
Best Bookshop
Livraria Lello describes itself as The Most Beautiful Bookstore in The World; a boastful title, but it’s difficult to argue with such a shop. Located in Porto, Portugal, Lello dates back to 1881 making it one of Portugal’s oldest run bookstores, with a long history of Lello family owners. Though the facade of the store is striking, it is the interiors that stun with elaborate wood carvings and central forked staircase. To add further charm, the store still features the rails and wooden cart that used to transport the books around the extensive shop.
See more beautiful libraries of Europe and the rest of the world in upcoming posts, or take a look at some previous posts including Library Inspiration, or browse the ‘library‘ tag for more..