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BN FAVES: 10 BEAUTIFUL PLACES TO READ, READ, READ...

Courtesy of Admont Abbey. Admont Abbey Library.

Here is one of our BN Team favorite Place Time Daily Fix posts!

We love seeing architecture that is inspired by books -- cathedrals to knowledge and stories. Here are 10 of our favorite most beautiful libraries.

1. BIBLIOTECA DI ADMONT -- AUSTRIA

The Rococo masterpiece of the Biblioteca di Admont in Austria was completed in 1776. It has 7 domes adorned with breathtaking frescoes, by Bartolomeo Altomonte, that reflect on science and religion.

In addition, the library houses a series of exceptional sculptures depicting the Last Judgement.

Today in the Benedictine library collected 180,000 works, including 1,400 manuscripts, some of which date back to the eighth century, and 530 incunabula.

2. TRINITY COLLEGE LIBRARY -- DUBLIN, IRELAND

Completed in 1732, the “Long Room” of Trinity College Library holds the oldest books in the Library’s collection.

Along the main corridor, 14 marble busts of great thinkers and writers by the sculptor Peter Scheemakers line up in watch. The most popular bust is of the writer Jonathan Swift, created by Louis Francois Roubiliac.

In addition, the Long Room houses an extraordinary oak and willow harp dating back to the 15th century, the oldest of its kind.

3. WIBLINGEN MONASTERY LIBRARY -- WIBLINGEN, GERMANY

Another incredible example of grand Rococo style is the Wiblingen Monastery Library in Ulm, Germany. It is loaded with Baroque glory. In addition to being one of the most beautiful, it is also one of the richest libraries in the world.

The original abbey dates from 1093. And the Wiblingen Monastery was built in 16th century. It was finally decorated by a posse of Europe’s best artists in 1750.

Monastery Library houses over 15,000 rare manuscripts.

4. SEATTLE CENTRAL LIBRARY -- SEATTLE, WASHINGTON

As one might expect, the main library of Bill & Melinda’s home town is a state of the art knowledge center. Seattle Central Library is as focused on new media as it is on traditional books. The architecture is fluid, by design, enabling rooms to morph in size and purpose depending on the current need.

The interior soars and the mind soars with it. You understand, once you are standing inside, looking at the vast space, then looking past it at the sky beyond, how much more there is to learn. And so you read…

5. YALE UNIVERSITY BEINECKE RARE BOOK & MANUSCRIPT LIBRARY -- NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT

Books and manuscripts from the Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library can’t be removed from the reading room. But the room is so cool, why would you want to leave?

In sharp and delightful contrast to the ancient contents, the distinctive central tower holds over 180,000 books. The underground shelves hold over 3 times that many as well as a million manuscripts. Each of the works is protected by strict temperature and humidity controls for preservation.

The building, designed by Gordon Bunshaft, was completed in 1963. One of the most unusual and beautiful aspects of this library is its marble walls. Only 1½” thick, sunlight filters through these marble panels, partially to protect the delicate volumes inside but also to leave you in total awe. Photos don’t begin to do it justice.

6. THE REAL GABINETE PORTUGUES DE LEITURA -- RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL

The Real Gabinete Portugues de Leitura, or Royal Portuguese Reading Room, in Rio De Janeiro, was completed in 1887 and houses 350,000 books.

The library, inside and out, is a beautiful example of Neo-Manueline, a revival architecture and decorative arts style developed in Portugal between the middle of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century. The facade was sculpted from limestone in Lisbon and shipped to Rio. Statues of famous Portuguese explorers grace the entrance.

Everywhere you turn, you see another beautiful thing -- a chandelier, an altar made of silver, ivory and marble that celebrates the time of discovery, every shelf, every table, every chair, and, of course, every book.

7. ST GALLEN ABBEY LIBRARY -- ST. GALLEN, SWITZERLAND

This ancient library bears the inscription “pharmacy of the soul,” in Greek. The library was originally founded in 719, but was remodeled to the current style in the 18th century. Ornate woodwork frames the massive collection of books. Over 400 of them are over 1,000 years old.

Look up, and you will see one of the most beautiful painted ceilings ever. Light streams in through 34 windows.

St. Gallen Abbey Library is now a Unesco World Heritage site.

8. AUSTRIAN NATIONAL LIBRARY -- VIENNA, AUSTRIA

The Austrian National Library, once the Imperial Library, is located in the Imperial Hofburg Palace in Vienna. It is known for its beautifully painted cupola. The library was built in the 1720s to house the library. It holds over 200,000 books.

The statues and frescoes on one side of the library are all about war, while those on the other side are all about peace.

9. FRENCH NATIONAL LIBRARY READING ROOM -- PARIS, FRANCE

It’s got to be big to hold every book ever published in France. And it is. The French National Library holds over 14 million books and another 16 million objects of note. It dates back to 1368, when the original Royal Library was founded. It was first opened to the public in 1692.

In 1988, President François Mitterrand announced the construction and the expansion of the library to create one of the largest and most modern libraries in the world.

Designed by Dominique Perrault, Jan Kaplicky, James Stirling and Philippe Chaix and completed in 1995, the French National Library is intentionally a massive structure based around a theme of literally burying the books. The four towers of the building are meant to represent four open books, celebrating the use of the building. In the urban environment, peace is kept by many green plaza spaces.

10. LIBRERIA ACQUA ALTA -- VENICE, ITALY

The Libreria Acqua Alta is treasure for many reasons. It’s a bookshop with unmatchable charm, color, and texture. It’s got a fascinating collection of old books. And it defies the “Acqua Alta,” or high waters, which flood the shop each year. The books are safe and dry in spite the floating gondola and bathtubs inside.

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IMAGE CREDITS:

Image: Courtesy of Admont Abbey. Admont Abbey Library.
Image: by Jorge Royan. Admont Abbey Library. Admont, Austria.
Image: by Jorge Royan. Admont Abbey Library. Admont, Austria.
Image: by Zhenya Kuzina. Trinity College Library. Dublin, Ireland.
Image: by Christopher. Wiblingen Monastery Library.
Image: by Moody 75. Seattle Central Library. Seattle, Washington.
Image: by Lauren Manning. Yale University Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library. New Haven, Connecticut, USA.
Image: by Mathieu Bertrand Struck. The Real Gabinete Português de Leitura. Rio De Janeiro, Brazil.
Image: Courtesy of Swedish Tourism. St. Gallen Abbey Library. St. Gallen, Switzerland.
Image: by Ken Kaminesky. Austrian National Library. Vienna, Austria.
Image: by Vincent Desjardins. French National Library Reading Room. Paris, France.
Image: Courtesy of Venice Daily Photo. Libreria Acqua Alta.
Image: by Julie Falk. Sam Reading in Badlands.
Image: by britta heise. Fresco at the State Hall.Vienna, Austria.
Image: by BN App - Download now!
Image: by Rob Hurson. Trinity College Library. Dublin, Ireland.