11 of the World’s Most Stunningly Beautiful Libraries

Attached to the oldest monastery in Styria, Admont Abbey Library looks as if it has leaped off the pages of a storybook itself. Admont Abbey Library was created in a combination of Baroque and Gothic styles; it is adorned with wooden sculptures, gold accents, and extravagant ceiling frescos that are dedicated to the development of human understanding. It clocks in at an impressive 230 feet long and houses a collection of more than 200,000 volumes.

While the New York Public Library has several buildings, the Stephen A. Schwarzman building is certainly the most impressive. Greeted by two lion statues, a sense of wonder only grows more intense as one walks in. Marble walls, frescos, and opulent lighting fixtures remind one of  the gilded grandeur of New York City. Collections here include art, multimedia, manuscripts, and rare books, so whether you’re just visiting or settling in for some heavy-duty research, this library is the perfect place for a treasure hunt.

Part of Johns Hopkins and located on its Mount Vernon campus, this library is a “must-see” on any visit to Baltimore. Housing more than 300,000 volumes, the George Peabody Library is truly regal. Opened in 1878, the stack room contains five tiers of cast-iron balconies that rise more than 60 feet.

The Old Library of the Dutch Parlament, Handelingenkamer Library, was built at the end of the 19th century. A stunning, domed-glass ceiling was designed to let the maximum amount of light in, permeating down all four stories. Ornamental balustrades form the railings while open-style cast iron balconies done in red add charm to this library, while the rows of bound books give it a classic appeal.  

Located in the city center, the Royal Portuguese Reading Room in Rio de Janeiro contains the largest collection of Portuguese texts outside of the country itself. The limestone exterior is bestowed with states of Portuguese explorers, like Vasco de Gama and Pedro Alvares Cabral; however, inside is the real gem. Dark wood arches, stained glass windows, and blue hues make this library look like a royal palace.

Said to be one of the best-preserved historical libraries, Strahov Library contains more than 200,000 volumes. Carved wooden cartouches with images indicating book categories and ornate Biblical frescos by Siard Nosecký and Anton Maulbertsch are just some of the ornamental touches that make this library breathtaking. This Baroque-style library is also close to Prague Castle, making it an easy pop-in while sightseeing.

The most modern library on this list, having only opened in 2017, the Tianjin Binhai Library is a wonder. Named one of Time’s World’s Greatist Places, this library is 363,000 square feet of terraced shelves that range from the floor to the ceiling surrounding a center auditorium. With room for 1.2 million books and five stories, the full glass facades are designed to include natural space, connecting the library to the adjoining park.

Like a scene from Harry Potter, the Trinity College Old Library is a sight to behold – especially what is dubbed The Long Room. With more than 200,000 of the library’s oldest texts, the amount of books isn’t the only thing that’s meant to impress. The Long Room is more than 210 feet long and contains 14 marble busts, dark wooden arches, and a barrel-vaulted ceiling. It also houses one of the last remaining copies of the 1916 Proclamation of the Irish Republic, as well as other national treasures, in its two stories.

When World War II hit, many were afraid the manuscripts in this historic library would be lost forever if they stayed in the city center. Unfortunately, the library itself was bombed, but the texts survived as they were taken out of the library and were hidden in the countryside. Now, the University Library of Bologna has a collection of both those antiques as well as modern manuscripts that make their home in this space of traditional Italian construction and design. With dark wood balconies accented by marble columns, this library houses more than 1.25 million volumes and an art collection with more than 400 portraits. It has been deemed one of the most important libraries in the country.