Himanshi
If you are a bookworm and a fan of the most iconic architectural designs, what place is better than these most historical libraries in the world? These libraries are not just beautiful in their appearance but also a hub of knowledge and have a collection that is priceless.
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Most Historical Libraries In The World
Library of Strahov Monastery
Location: Prague, Czech Republic
The library of Strahov Monastery is the oldest library in this town. This library was established in 1671-1674. It is one of the oldest and most preserved historical libraries in the world. There are more than 200,00 volumes in this library. Some of the collections of this library were believed to be printed between 1501 and 1800.
Stephen A. Schwarzman Building, New York Public Library
Location: New York, USA
This library is one of the parts of the New York Public Library. It is known to be one of the most iconic libraries in the world. It was inaugurated in 1911 and was designed by an outstanding architectural firm, Carrère and Hastings. In 2008, this library was renamed to the name of the businessman and Philanthropist Stephen A. Schwarzman, who made a generous donation for the development and betterment of this historic library.
The library has a collection of not just books and manuscripts but also contains some historical photographs and maps. One feature of this library is that it often hosts cultural events, exhibitions and lectures that one can attend. So, when you plan to visit this library, make sure to make the best out of your visit and not miss this educational opportunity.
Old Library of Trinity College
Location: Dublin, Ireland
This Old Library of Trinity College is located in Dublin, Ireland. This library is known as the Long Room. True to its name, this library is huge and located at Trinity College in Dublin. It is believed that the main chamber of this library is almost 65 meters long. This library has more than 200,000 collections of old books. It is one of the most impressive libraries to ever exist in 2024 and has been one for centuries.
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Cite de l’Architecture et du Patrimoine 
Location: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Located inside the Cite de l’Architecture et du Patrimoine, there is a beautiful library that has been marked as the most beautiful library in the world due to its mesmerising interior décor and vast collection of books. The unique feature of this library is that the collection of this library focuses solely on works about urbanism, architecture, beautification and landscaping.
One interesting fact about this library is that it has the most extensive collection of Romanesque wall paintings that have been preserved for centuries in France. However, this library is located inside a museum. While visiting this beautiful library, you should also visit the museum.
Royal Portuguese Cabinet of Reading
Location: Paris, France
The Royal Portuguese Cabinet of Reading is situated in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil. This library consists of 400,000 volumes. Among those volumes, some are original manuscripts and unique folios, and some are the rarest books. This library is also popular due to its stunning centrepiece. This centrepiece is a rare copy of the Lusíadas from the year 1572.
Other than just this centrepiece, the overall the appearance of this library is also breathtaking as the façade of the Royal Portuguese cabinet of the reading library is made up of Lisbon stone that was imported from Portugal; this design of this beautiful library was inspired by the Jerónimos Monastery that is located in Lisbon.
Library of the Monastery of San Lorenzo de El Escorial
Location: Madrid, Spain
The Library of the Monastery of San Lorenzo de El Escorial is known to be an influential and royal library. It is believed that this library was once a hub of kings and monks who used to visit it often. It was built in the 16th century by the great king Phillip II of Spain. Today, this library holds not just books but some of the most iconic manuscripts and books that brief philosophies and theology.
This library also consists of books that have instrumental knowledge of science, learnings of celestial and terrestrial, and maps of the entirety of the world. This library was designed by Juan De Herrera, a well-known mathematician and architect. Other than books, this library also contains some of the most fascinating objects, such as the Baroque Globes and the Armillary spheres that were believed to have been collected by King Phillip himself.
The Hachioji Library at Tama Art University
Location: Tokyo, Japan
The Hachioji Library at Tama Art University was designed by Ito Toyo, one of the most celebrated architects in Japan. The first floor of this library has a front entrance, and the entire library is decorated with glass walls; the contours of this library are filled with the natural environment that can also be found surrounding the campus.
This library contains more than 77,000 Japanese books. Other than these books, it also contains about 47,000 foreign books and 1,500 periodicals. The collection of this library is focused on the fields of art, architecture and design. Moreover, this library also contains a catalogue of some of the most iconic exhibitions.
Other than this library, there is Kaminoge Library on the same campus; this library is well is an iconic one and is suggested to be visited while visiting the Hachioji Library.
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