“A book is a dream you hold in your hands,” said Neil Gaiman, a British author from Portchester. Attention book lovers: We’ve looked into where the most beautiful and largest libraries in the world can be found.
Biblioteca Joanina in Portugal
The Biblioteca is located in the city of Coimbra. Pay attention to its stunning baroque architecture. Interesting fact: The library’s basement used to be a prison.
Beinecke Library, New Haven, USA
In addition to the Gutenberg Bible, printed in Latin by Johannes Gutenberg, the library houses over 500,000 volumes. Visitors can also marvel at the oversized glass tower in the center of the room.
Abbey Library in Admont, Austria
The library in Admont, with the world’s largest monastic library hall, contains countless antique books. Due to its architecture, it is considered one of the most beautiful libraries in the world.
Bibliotheca Alexandrina, Egypt
Compared to most others, this library has a very modern design. It has even received multiple awards. A must-see: Its glass roof, which slopes toward the sea, is a distinctive feature. The reading room spans seven floors, making it the largest in the world.
Bodleian Library in Oxford, England
This library makes Harry Potter fans’ hearts beat faster. The first two Harry Potter films were shot there. But it also has much to offer in terms of literature: The Bodleian Library contains more than six million volumes and accommodates 2,500 readers at once.
Czech National Library in Prague, Czech Republic
The Prague library from the 13th century is a work of art in itself. With its baroque-style ceiling frescoes, it is one of the best-preserved historical libraries in the world.
New York Public Library, New York, USA
Of course, the New York Public Library cannot be left out of our list. It is probably one of the most famous libraries in the world and has appeared in countless Hollywood films. Editor’s tip—we visited: In addition to its stunning architecture, it impresses with a wide selection of media.
