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From heavy-ornamented baroque libraries to minimalist white interiors, the most beautiful libraries in the world have something for everyone.<\/p>\n
And whether you like hunting down unique libraries like me, or just like picture-worthy spots, these libraries will make you swoon over them.<\/p>\n
Let\u2019s dive in!<\/p>\n \r\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/culture.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/shutterstock_1495527527.jpg\")
\r\n <\/div>\r\n Location:<\/strong>\u00a0Prague, Czech Republic<\/p>\n Year created:<\/strong> 1671-1679 (Theological Hal), 1794 \u2013 1797 (Philosophical Hall)<\/p>\n Number of books:<\/strong>\u00a0200,000<\/p>\n Website:\u00a0<\/strong>Strahovsk\u00fd Kl\u00e1\u0161te<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\r\n You don\u2019t have to be religious to enjoy the breathtaking frescoes in the Strahov Monastery Library in the Czech Republic.<\/p>\n The Theological Hall boasts a Baroque style with a ceiling full of stucco decorations and paintings from the 18th century.<\/p>\n Although the Philosophical Hall is younger, it\u2019s also worth your time.<\/p>\n You can\u2019t access the halls with common tickets. You can only tour the facilities by coordinating a special tour through the\u00a0website<\/a>. Taking pictures has an additional fee.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\r\n\r\n <\/div>\r\n \r\n \n \r\n Location:<\/strong>\u00a0Maryland, United States<\/p>\n Year created:<\/strong>\u00a01878<\/p>\n Number of books:<\/strong>\u00a0300,000<\/p>\n Website:\u00a0<\/strong>John Hopkins Sheridan Libraries<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\r\n Located inside Johns Hopkins University in Maryland, the George Peabody Library is one of the free public libraries in the United States.<\/p>\n The Peabody Stack Room has five floors with ornamental cast-iron rails and an outstanding skylight roof.<\/p>\n The library\u2019s collection includes over 30,000 volumes from the 18th and 19th centuries. Also known as \u201cThe Cathedral of Books\u201d, it\u2019s said this beautiful library was the inspiration for Beauty and the Beast\u2019s library.<\/p>\n Entrance is free, but visitors are limited to the first floor. You can see more details on their\u00a0website<\/a>.<\/p>\n <\/div>\r\n\r\n <\/div>\r\n \r\n \n \r\n Location:<\/strong>\u00a0Stuttgart, Germany<\/p>\n Year created:<\/strong>\u00a02011<\/p>\n Number of books:<\/strong>\u00a0+500,000<\/p>\n Website:\u00a0<\/strong>Stadtbibliothek Stuttgart<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\r\n Most famous libraries around the world are heavily ornamented, but the Stuttgart City Library will impress you with its simplicity.<\/p>\n Don\u2019t let its sober cube-shaped outside appearance fool you. The Stuttgart City Library features a five-floor white interior, with a skylight ceiling and inverted pyramid form that gives it a surreal look.<\/p>\n Visitors can tour it freely and even borrow guided audiobooks.<\/p>\n The Stuttgart City Library also has a rooftop terrace, meeting rooms, and a coffee shop perfect for coffee and book enthusiasts.<\/p>\n <\/div>\r\n\r\n <\/div>\r\n \r\n \n \r\n Location:<\/strong>\u00a0Dublin, Ireland<\/p>\n Year created:<\/strong>\u00a01592<\/p>\n Number of books:<\/strong>\u00a0+7 million<\/p>\n Website:\u00a0<\/strong>Trinity College Dublin<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\r\n The Trinity College Library in Dublin is one of the most famous libraries in Europe for its visuals and vast collection.<\/p>\n The Long Room is a two-story room that hosts the library\u2019s oldest books distributed in stacked dark wood bookshelves that blend in with the surrounding walls and the arched ceiling.<\/p>\n Harry Potter fans will feel like they are walking inside the movie.<\/p>\n The Trinity College Library houses over 7 million volumes, including antique gems like the Book of Kells. To visit, book at\u00a0Trinity College Dublin\u2019s website<\/a>.<\/p>\n <\/div>\r\n\r\n <\/div>\r\n \r\n \n \r\n Location:<\/strong>\u00a0Admont, Austria<\/p>\n Year created:<\/strong>\u00a01776<\/p>\n Number of books:<\/strong>\u00a070,000<\/p>\n Website:\u00a0<\/strong>Benediktinerstift Admont<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\r\n Once you get a glimpse of it, there is no denying that the Admont Abbey Library in Austria is one of the world\u2019s most beautiful libraries.<\/p>\n Considered the world\u2019s largest monastery library, Admont Abbey is home to 70 thousand volumes.<\/p>\n Rather than its collection, what amazes most visitors is the Baroque architecture with gold and white ornaments.<\/p>\n The ceiling displays frescoes by Bartolomeo Altomonte and the sculptures are works by Joseph Stammel.<\/p>\n Getting to this library from Vienna requires multiple transfers. But, during the weekends, you\u2019ll find a direct train from Wien Westbahnhof to Admont. You can buy tickets on-site.<\/p>\n <\/div>\r\n\r\n <\/div>\r\n \r\n \n \r\n Location:<\/strong>\u00a0Mafra, Portugal<\/p>\n Year created:<\/strong>\u00a01771<\/p>\n Number of books:<\/strong>\u00a036,000<\/p>\n Website:\u00a0<\/strong>Cultura Portugal<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\r\n With most of the complete Mafra National Palace being an architectural masterpiece, it\u2019s not hard to believe the Mafra Palace Library is the best of it all.<\/p>\n This monochromatic Roccoco-style library with marble floors, heavily-ornated shelves, and arched ceilings is one of the most stunning libraries around the world.<\/p>\n The library\u2019s collection isn\u2019t any less impressive, with 36 thousand volumes from the 14th to the 19th century.<\/p>\n To make Mafra Palace Library even more interesting, it\u2019s also the home to dozens of bats that serve as a pest control method.<\/p>\n There are bus routes from Lisbon, Portugal to Mafra in under 42 minutes, and you can buy your entrance ticket on-site.<\/p>\n <\/div>\r\n\r\n <\/div>\r\n \r\n \n \r\n Location:<\/strong>\u00a0St. Gallen, Switzerland<\/p>\n Year created:<\/strong>\u00a01758-1767<\/p>\n Number of books:<\/strong>\u00a0160,000<\/p>\n Website:\u00a0Stiftsbezirk St. Gallen<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\r\n Hidden in the small town of Saint Gallen, Switzerland, the Abbey Library of Saint Gall might not be the largest monastic library in Europe, but it\u2019s one of the oldest libraries on the continent.<\/p>\n This ancient library dates back to the 8th AD, and it presumes one of the most impressive existing collections of Middle Ages items.<\/p>\n But the beauty of the Abbey Library of Saint Gall for many visitors lies in its Roccoco ceiling and two floors of polished and ornamented bookshelves.<\/p>\n Sadly, you\u2019ll have to keep the memory of this UNESCO heritage site to yourself, as photos are forbidden. You can reach the site by train or bus and buy your entrance\u00a0ticket online.<\/p>\n <\/div>\r\n\r\n <\/div>\r\n \r\n \n \r\n Location:<\/strong>\u00a0Rio de Janeiro, Brazil<\/p>\n Year created:<\/strong>\u00a01837<\/p>\n Number of books:<\/strong>\u00a0350,000<\/p>\n Website:\u00a0<\/strong>Real Gabinete<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\r\n Also known as the Royal Portuguese Cabinet of Reading, this incredible library is located in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.<\/p>\n The Royal Portuguese Cabinet houses a collection of 350 thousand volumes, earning the title of the largest Portuguese literature collection outside Portugal.<\/p>\n The three-floor reading room has dark wood shelves and arches with gold decorations, skylights in iron, and a majestic chandelier. If you\u2019re into gothic architecture, you\u2019ll love this Manueline-style library.<\/p>\n You can visit the Royal Portuguese Reading Room for free. It\u2019s also close to other main attractions in the historical center of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.<\/p>\n <\/div>\r\n\r\n <\/div>\r\n \r\n \n \r\n Location:<\/strong>\u00a0Vienna, Austria<\/p>\n Year created:<\/strong>\u00a01368<\/p>\n Number of books:<\/strong> +8 million<\/p>\n Website:\u00a0<\/strong>\u00d6sterreichische Nationalbibliothek<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\r\n Another library in Austria that joins the list of the top libraries in the world is the Austrian National Library.<\/p>\n Located within the Hofburg Palace complex in Vienna, and once the Court Library, the Austrian National Library is both a library and a museum.<\/p>\n The State Hall is the main attraction with two floors of bookshelves, sculptures, and exhibitions.<\/p>\n The Austrian National Library is the largest in Austria with over 12 million books and collection objects. One of the most popular collections among history lovers is the collection of antique and rare manuscripts.<\/p>\n You can buy tickets on their\u00a0website.<\/p>\n <\/div>\r\n\r\n <\/div>\r\n \r\n \n \r\n Location:<\/strong>\u00a0Tianjin, China<\/p>\n Year created:<\/strong>\u00a02017<\/p>\n Number of books:<\/strong>\u00a0can hold up to 1.2 million<\/p>\n Website:<\/strong>\u00a0Binhai Cultural Center<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\r\n The Tianjin Binhai Library is much younger than other libraries on the list, but its mesmerizing architecture earns it a place between the most beautiful libraries around the world.<\/p>\n Located in Tianjin, China, this library is a place for book lovers, but also curious visitors.<\/p>\n The sphere in the center, known as \u201cthe eye,\u201d seems like out of a sci-fi movie.<\/p>\n Bookshelves go from the floor to the ceiling, and although the higher levels aren\u2019t occupied with books, the library isn\u2019t any less stirring.<\/p>\n The five-floor library features an auditorium, reading rooms, meeting rooms, offices, and rooftop terraces. Tianjin is only 30 minutes away from Beijing by high-speed train and admission is free.<\/p>\n <\/div>\r\n\r\n <\/div>\r\n \r\n \n \r\n Location:<\/strong>\u00a0London, United Kingdom<\/p>\n Year created:<\/strong>\u00a01973<\/p>\n Number of books:<\/strong> Over 13 million<\/p>\n Website:<\/strong>\u00a0The British Library<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\r\n Even if there are far more beautiful libraries in the world, they can\u2019t beat the British Library in London in terms of collection.<\/p>\n The collection has over 170 million items surpassing even the Library of Congress. It\u2019s also a functional library where anyone can go to study or work or even just take some time off to read fictional novels like the <\/span>Lord of the Rings books<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n Although not as mesmerizing as others, this British Library sports a multi-tier impressive book tower. Admission is free and some of the exhibitions are too.<\/p>\n The Piccadilly underground line takes you directly from the London Airport to King\u2019s Cross St. Pancras, which is within walking distance of the library.<\/p>\n <\/div>\r\n\r\n <\/div>\r\n \r\n \n \r\n Location:<\/strong>\u00a0Madrid, Spain<\/p>\n Year created:<\/strong>\u00a01565<\/p>\n Number of books:<\/strong> 40,000<\/p>\n Website:<\/strong>\u00a0El Escorial<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\r\n Stepping into The Royal Library of San Lorenzo de El Escorial is enough to know it\u2019s one of the world\u2019s most beautiful libraries.<\/p>\n Established by King Philip II inside the complex of San Lorenzo de El Escorial, in Madrid, the library houses over 40 thousand books, rare baroque globes, and armillary spheres.<\/p>\n But beyond the collection, what captures most visitors is the ceiling\u2019s colorful frescoes with images of classical history.<\/p>\n Visitors can buy their\u00a0tickets online<\/a>\u00a0and take the train or the subway to get there.<\/p>\n <\/div>\r\n\r\n <\/div>\r\n \r\n \n \r\n \r\n Quick Facts:<\/h3>\r\n
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\n\n\r\n 2. George Peabody Library<\/h2>\r\n
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\r\n 3. Stuttgart City Library<\/h2>\r\n
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\r\n 4. Trinity College Library<\/h2>\r\n
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\r\n 5. Admont Abbey Library<\/h2>\r\n
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\r\n 6. Mafra Palace Library<\/h2>\r\n
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\r\n 7. Abbey Library of Saint Gall<\/h2>\r\n
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\r\n 8. Royal Portuguese Reading Room<\/h2>\r\n
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\r\n 9. Austrian National Library<\/h2>\r\n
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\r\n 10. Tianjin Binhai Library<\/h2>\r\n
\r\n ![\"\"](\"https:\/\/culture.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/shutterstock_1774839533.jpg\")
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\r\n 11. British Library<\/h2>\r\n
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\r\n 12. The Royal Library of San Lorenzo de El Escorial<\/h2>\r\n
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\r\n 13. Jos\u00e9 Vasconcelos Library<\/h2>\r\n
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