What is the first thing you think of when it comes to visiting a library? It is a place to study, book lovers, quiet, boring? Well think again! Not only because of its architecture, but also depending on its history, libraries are another marvel and art. What if on your next vacation you could visit some of the most impressive libraries in the world? We have already prepared a list.
Are libraries magical?
When you are a small child, you can read a book and suddenly your mind will be drawn into a world of fantasy and mysteries. As you get older and your academic year begins, you can turn to picture-free books. But no matter how old you are, if you turn your nose up between two full reads, libraries are definitely a place that will take you into the world of “oohs and ahhs.” Libraries have always had a kind of mystical aura, a unique charm, hoarding vast amounts of knowledge and history, abiding by their own rules and sometimes shrouded in mystery.
Historical Libraries around the World
1. Trinity College Library (Ireland)
One of the most impressive and iconic libraries in the world, Trinity College Library’s main chamber probably fits the fanciful idea we naturally have of an ancient library, bearing the weight of eons (albeit only 400 years old) and keeping secrets of history Enjoy the atmosphere while you’re there: the solemn marble busts, the many dark wooden shelves and the high barrel-shaped ceiling. It’s like everything there is designed to make you feel small…and it is.
2. Handelingenkamer Library (The Netherlands)
The beautiful Handelingenkamer Library, located inside the House of Representatives in The Hague of the Netherlands, displays a typical Dutch Neo-Renaissance style and is quite vertical, with high walls, many splendid railings, and an impressive glass domed roof. When you visit there, you may be interested in certain elements of the design, such as the dragon heads on the walls, which stem from the Chinese inspirations of C.H. Peters based the design on.
3. Library of Parliament (Canada)
This one is also quite impressive, with flying buttresses, a large circular Main Reading Room and its High Victorian Gothic style, which matches the rest of Parliament. Parliamentarians across Canada still use the Library of Parliament in its entirety, providing them with the information they need for their research and analysis. Over 350,000 visitors visit the library each year, so if you’re in Ottawa, don’t forget to add and enjoy a trip to see this architectural beauty.
4. Library of El Escorial Monastery (Spain)
The El Escorial Monastery Library is located within the Royal Monastery of the historic palace of the King of Spain, in Madrid, which explains why its architecture is so beautifully detailed and luxurious. This royal library was meant to have a strong symbolic meaning, by linking the monastery to the rest of the palace it embodies the union between the physical and spiritual worlds, which is why, for example, books on secular subjects such as history or biology are stored nearby. at the entrance
5. Abbey Library of Saint Gall (Switzerland)
More than 250 years old, the Library of the Abbey of Saint Gall, a medieval library in the Rococo style, is located in the Swiss city of St. Gallen, and is of such cultural importance that UNESCO declared it a World Heritage Site in 1983. It was so well preserved and maintained that it looks like a movie set and could easily be included as part of a trip to Switzerland, during a rainy day for example.
6. Wiblingen Monastery Library (Germany)
We know that monastery libraries can be quite luxurious, but this might be among the most luxurious of all. Marvel at the hand-carved wooden columns painted to resemble blue marble, white statues that evoke ancient Greek art, ornate ceilings, and lots of gold among the bright colors of the Wiblingen Monastery Library. This library, located in the city of Ulm in Germany, will definitely make you feel like you are in a fairy tale for a split second.
7. Admont Abbey Library (Austria)
Another abbey? Many libraries are actually monastic because monks used to be among the only people literate enough to read and write, but this is the largest in the world! The Admont Abbey Library is famous beyond Austria for its beautiful ceiling art, painted by Bartolomeo Altomonte, and its Baroque architecture. As a bonus to all that, there’s a 40-minute guided tour, but you can also explore the library on your own without a guide! Plan a trip and see for yourself why this library is one of the most popular tourist spots!
8. State Library of South Australia (Australia)
The purpose of this institution is to collect and preserve the memory of the state, and especially the history and culture of the Kaurna people of the Adelaide plains. The State Library of South Australia is made up of 3 buildings, each in its own style: the contemporary Catherine Helen Spence Wing, the Scholar Institute Building and the historic Mortlock Wing, which has been nicknamed the “Harry Potter room” for its similar to the scenery of the movies.
9. Bodleian Library (United Kingdom)
In addition to being the official library of the University of Oxford, the Bodleian Library is home to more than 13 million items in print, including priceless works such as the Magna Carta and Shakespeare’s First Folio. One of its buildings, the Radcliffe Camera designed by James Gibbs in neoclassical style, has even become quite famous within pop culture after appearing in movies like The Golden Compass or Young Sherlock Holmes. The library is one of the oldest in Europe and the second largest in the world. So if you’re in Oxford, don’t miss this chance to walk around and learn the behind-the-scenes stories of this ‘must-see’ destination by signing up for one of the guided or self-guided tours!
10. George Peabody Library (United States)
Located in Baltimore, the George Peabody Library fits more into the long hall, high ceiling type, and is so beautiful that it was described as a “cathedral of books.” The collection “only” has about 300,000 copies, but among which are some of the most famous American authors, such as Poe or Hawthorne, and even foreign authors such as the French philosopher Diderot. Unfortunately from now on the library is closed to the public, so you will have to postpone your visit.
11. Baroque Library- Klementinum (Czech Republic)
Initially open as part of the Jesuit University located in the Klementinum, the baroque library quickly grew to become a renowned place of education and culture, even to this day. The Baroque Library is also absolutely stunning, with frescoed ceilings, gold and mahogany columns, and a collection of globes and astronomical clocks. No wonder it is nicknamed “the baroque pearl of Prague”, it is definitely a must-see in this city as there hasn’t been much change inside since the 18th century.
12. Library of Congress (United States)
If you are planning a visit to see the White House and various other historical monuments and buildings in Washington DC, the US capital, then don’t forget to stop by the Library of Congress. The library has more than 171 million items and is the largest library in the world. Although tourists can visit the library, the materials can be viewed on the site, but are not available to borrow. The Thomas Jefferson Building is home to the impressive “Main Reading Room.”
Stylish Modern Libraries around the World
13. Starfield Library (South Korea)
The first and only library on our list to be located inside a mall, so you certainly won’t be short of activities there! The Starfield Library in Seoul has a bit of a futuristic look, with a large glass roof that covers the entire main hall and tall, round shelves, filled with many different genres. If you’re a shopper, enjoy the shops and facilities inside the COEX mall, and then stop by the library. Don’t forget to take some selfies of this amazing background.
14 Tianjin Binhai Library (China)
Nicknamed “The Eye,” the Tianjin Binhai Library is one of the top five attractions at the Binhai Cultural Center in Tianjin, China. Designed by a joint effort of local Dutch and Chinese architecture firms and opened in 2017, not only locals, but also tourists stop by simply for the architectural design: the bookshelves are inside the interior walls, running from the floor to the end. up to the ceiling, in patterns that evoke the shape of an eye. The building also has rooftop lounge areas and patios, so you have different opportunities to have a great time there.
15. Biblioteca Vasconcelos (Mexico)
Named after the Mexican writer José Vasconcelos, the Vasconcelos Library, inaugurated in 2006, has a unique architecture and interior decoration, with very high shelves and transparent walls, turning your visit into an artistic experience. Indeed, art is at the center of the institution’s vision, as it also acts as a gallery for various artists, such as Gabriel Orozco’s Ballena, a sculpture made from the skeleton of a whale.
16. Calgary Central Library (Canada)
Created by American, Norwegian and Canadian firms, the Calgary Central Library, located in Calgary, has an elegant and beautiful design: its oval shape and the combination of clear and fritted glass make it stand out in the city center with patterns of unique light, while staying sustainable and inspired by local ecosystems. You can book hour-long tours to learn all about the library or just enjoy its layout while reading your favorite book.
17. Public Library of Stuttgart (Germany)
The entire Stuttgart Public Library is quite large and consists of 17 branch libraries in addition to the central one, not to mention the electronic and mobile library. But the main attraction is definitely the central library, with its white stairs that form a kind of moat, surrounded by bookshelves. It’s a modern yet subtle and minimalist design, by Korean architect Eun Young Yi, and really offers a unique setting.
18. Bibliothèque Méjanes (France)
Founded on the enormous collection of books of the Marquis de Mejanes after his death some 250 years ago, the Bibliothèque Méjanes located in the south of France, in Aix-en-Provence, is actually made up of different buildings and a Mediabus, which carries books to people with limited access to the library. And the main entrance is quite typical, it is made of three giant-sized replicas of the classics of French literature.
19. Bibliotheca Alexandrina (Egypt)
As a symbol and commemoration of the legendary Library of Alexandria that was lost in antiquity, the Bibliotheca Alexandrina aims to revive and represent in our modern age the spirit of brilliance that this ancient center of learning represented. Therefore, this institution not only contains up to eight million books, but also four museums, four art galleries and a planetarium, so you can live a complete cultural experience.
20. Bishan Public Library (Singapore)
With a critically acclaimed design that has won many awards, including the International Architecture Award in 2009, the Bishan Public Library is simply a little wonder. The shape of the building evokes a tree house, which is a metaphor for learning while having fun, and the iconic pods that protrude from the glass front façade are individual and tranquil reading spaces. You will have a nice and authentic experience there as it is a local community hotspot.
21. Beitou Public Library (Taiwan)
The last entry on our list is a bit unique, because it is one of the only “green” libraries in the world! Located in Beitou, Taiwan, it looks like a big tree house, made mostly of wood and even solar panels on the roof. The entire building of the Beitou Public Library is eco-friendly and blends into the surrounding environment, to offer visitors a nice and relaxing “forest bath” where they can enjoy their favorite book in the midst of nature!