Top 20 Most Beautiful Libraries in the World

Admont Bibliothek - Most Beautiful Libraries

At Love Happens, we love appreciating the history of design. History and preservation are key aspects of library design. These 20 beautiful libraries are architectural masterpieces that house many of history’s most important texts. Enjoy!

Klementinum National Library

Prague, Czech Republic

In 1722, the Klementinum National Library opened in Prague as part of a Jesuit University. It is now home to the National Library of the Czech Republic, containing over 20,000 volumes of foreign theological literature. The library’s interior includes rich amber and gold spiral pillars, ornate ceiling frescoes done by Jan Hiebl, and a portrait of Emperor Joseph II at the end of the hall. This portrait signifies the work done in preserving books from the abolished monastic libraries.

Klementinum National Library - most beautiful libraries in the world
Source: Bruno Delzant / Flickr / Wikimedia

Stuttgart City Library

Stuttgart, Germany

Minimalistic Stuttgart City Library is home to nine-stories of literature and is one of the most beautiful libraries in the world. Yi Architects’ design approach included an open multi-floor reading room, shaped like an upside-down pyramid. The combination of clean lines and white surfaces allow the magic of the thousands of books to fill the space with life and color.

Stuttgart City Library - most beautiful libraries in the world
Source: O Palsson / Flick

Wiblingen Monastery Library

Ulm, Germany

The Wiblingen Monastery Library was completed with design direction from Christian Wiedemann. The monastery was founded in 1093, however, the library was not completed until 1744. This library contains 15,000 texts majority filled with Pagan and Christian imagery.

Wiblingen Monastery Library  - most beautiful libraries in the world
Source: Zairon / Wikimedia

Bibliotheca Alexandria

Alexandria, Egypt

Etched exterior and historical interior combined to create the Bibliotheca Alexandrina. In 2002, it was inaugurated to honor the ancient world’s largest library. Prior to the fire 2,000 years ago, the original Library of Alexandria contained the largest collection of books of its time. Snøhetta, an architecture firm from Norway, redesigned the new library. It includes room for eight million books, four art galleries, four museums, a manuscript restoration lab and a planetarium. The etches on the exterior of the building portray the evolution of human language and make it one of the most beautiful libraries in the world.

Bibliotheca Alexandria - most beautiful libraries in the world
Source: Azniv Stepanian / Wikimedia

Admont Abbey Library

Admont, Austria

The Admont Abbey Library is in a Baroque-style building. Home to 70,000 volumes this library is part of one of the oldest and largest monasteries in Austria. Joseph Huebner developed the beautiful library in 1776. The elaborate artwork by Bartolomeo Alromonte represents different phases of human knowledge.

Admont Abbey Library - most beautiful libraries in the world
Source: Arcomonte26 / Wikimedia

Royal Portuguese Cabinet of Reading

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

In 1822, three Portuguese immigrants founded the Royal Portuguese Cabinet of Reading. This beautiful library is home to 400,000 rare manuscripts, unique proofs, and singular works. In 1887, the library became open to the public. The Portuguese brought literary traditions and masterpieces to Brazil, which was newly independent.

Royal Portuguese Cabinet of Reading - most beautiful libraries in the world
Source: Mayumi Ishikawa / Real Gabinete Portugues de Leitura / Wikimedia

Biblioteca Joanina

Coimbra, Portugal

Located at the University of Coimbra in Central Portugal, Biblioteca Joanina is one of the most beautiful libraries in the world. The library was built in the 18th century during the reign of the Portuguese King John V and is a national monument. Biblioteca Joanina is one of two libraries in the world whose books are protected from insects by the presence of bats. The bats come at night and the building is cleaned in the morning to preserve its beauty.

Biblioteca Joanina photo reinhard goerner - beautiful libraries
Source: Photo by Reinhard Goerner

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The Library of El Escorial

San Lorenzo de El Escorial, Spain

The beautiful Library of El Escorial Monastery contains more than 40,000 volumes. In 1563, King Phillip II of Spain commissioned the construction. The library contains seven frescoes. The frescoes showcase liberal arts; arithmetic, astronomy, geometry, music, rhetoric, dialectic, and grammar.

The Library of El Escorial - beautiful libraries
Source: El fosilmaníaco / Wikimedia


Bodleian Library

Oxford, UK

Filled with the Magna Carta and Shakespeare’s First Folio to name two of the 13 million volumes, the Bodleian Library is one of the most beautiful in the world. This library is the earliest example of a circular library layout.

bodleian library - most beautiful libraries in the world
Source: Photo by DAVID ILIFF. License: CC BY-SA 3.0 / Wikimedia

The Morgan Library & Museum

New York, NY USA

Located in the heart of New York City The Morgan Library & Museum is one of the most beautiful libraries in the world. Home to a private collection of fancier J.P. Morgan, bronzed bookcases holds original manuscripts of Sir Walter Scott and de Balzac.

the morgan new york
Source: soomness / Flick

George Peabody Library

Baltimore, MD USA

In 1857, George Peabody founded the Peabody Institute. Peabody dedicated this beautiful library to the citizens of Baltimore. Johns Hopkins University references it as the “Cathedral of Books”. The library contains nearly 300,000 volumes of text.

George Peabody Library baltimore
Source: Carol M. Highsmith / Wikimedia

Austrian National Library

Vienna, Austria

Founded in 1735, the Austrian National Library resides in Vienna’s Hofburg Palace. Constructed by Johann Berhard Fischer von Erlach and his son Johann Emmanuel, this impressive library features ceiling frescoes by Daniel Gran.

Austrian National Library
Source: Richard Hopkins / Flickr

Biblioteca Vasconcelos

Mexico City, Mexico

The Biblioteca Vasconcelos is an 820-foot building, created by Alberto Kalach. This beautiful library is located within a botanical garden and doubles as a gallery for artists to display work. For example, Gabriel Oroxco’s Ballena, is featured here.

Biblioteca Vasconcelos
Source: Diego Delso / Wikimedia

The Tianjin Binhai Library

Tianjin, China 

The Tianjin Binhai Library was designed by Dutch design firm MVRDV. The five-story space is home to 200,000 texts. The majority of the books are printed images of spines to create an illusion of stock. The curved seating and floor-to-ceiling shelves are full of this “stock” creating a sea-like feeling of motion.

The Tianjin Binhai Library china
Source: Muzzleflash / Wikimedia

Beitou Public Library

Taipei, Taiwan

The Beitou Public Library is the most beautiful ecological library. The large French style design allows natural light in. The slanting of the roof captures rainwater, to be used for the bathrooms. And balconies overlook the natural gardens immersing you in nature.

Beitou Public Library taiwan
Source: Wpcpey / Wikimedia

Tama Art University Library

Tokyo, Japan

Tama Art University Library is a beautiful minimalistic structure. Toyo Ito designed the library in 2007. He used curved inspiration from the sloped surrounding environment. The library features a gallery on the first floor and 100,000 volumes on the second floor. 

Tama Art University Library
Source: Wiiii / Wikimedia

Trinity College Library

Dublin, Ireland

Completed in 1733, Trinity College Library is a 213-foot wooden masterpiece. The library holds over 6 million texts within its four separate buildings. Architect Thomas Burgh designed the barrel-like ceilings and detailed columns to house the institution’s oldest collection.

Trinity College Library dublin ireland
Source: Photo by DAVID ILIFF. License: CC BY-SA 3.0 / Wikimedia

Bibliothèque Nationale de France

Paris, France

In 1368 the Bibliothèque Nationale de France was founded. Currently, home to over 10 million volumes, and spanning over four locations, the first-ever collection was placed in the Louvre. The library is home to some of the most amazing works of art and is one of the most beautiful libraries in the world. Works include King Louis XIV’s globes, previously found at Versailles.

Bibliothèque Nationale de France Paris
Source: Vincent Desjardins / Wikimedia

State Library of South Australia

Adelaide, Australia

Comprised of three buildings, the State Library of South Australia preserves stories of the Kaurna people in South Australia. The modern Catherine Helen Spence Wing, the Historic Mortlock Wing, and the studious Institute Building. This beautiful library is comprised of modern and Victorian design. And the Mortlock wing is compared to Hogwarts, from Harry Potter.

state library of south australia - world's most impressive libraries
Source: Mike Wilson / Wikimedia

Library of Parliament

Ottawa, Canada

The Library of Parliament was founded in 1876. Designed by Chilion Jones and Thomas Fuller, the inspiration came from the British Museum Reading Room. The beautiful library serves as the primary research center for the government of Canada. The statue of Queen Victoria, done by Marshall Wood, is placed over the 600,000 volumes of text in the library.

queen elizabeth statue library of parliament canada
Source: Jonathankslim / Wikimedia

Words by Samantha Baird


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