8 Most Beautiful Libraries In Germany

Who said the printed word is dying? Not Germany, clearly. Germany is home to a handful of truly beautiful and historic libraries, as well as several modern masterpieces. From vast open spaces to baroque masterpieces, Germany has libraries that stretch across many architectural traditions. For bibliophiles everywhere, this is a list of the most outrageously beautiful libraries in Germany.

Wiblingen Monastery Library, Ulm

Completed in the 11th Century in Ulm, Swabia, this library is a baroque masterpiece. The library used to be home to Benedictine monks, and is housed in the north wing of the monastery that is finished in an elaborate rococo style. Today, the monastery is home to the University of Ulm’s medical school.

Stuttgart City Library

Cottbus Library, Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus (BTU)

Following the unification of Germany in 1989, BTU Cottbus was founded in 1991 as an institute to foster best practices in technology in Brandenburg. The library, however, was only completed in 2004, following the designs of Herzog & de Meuron architects.

German National Library, Leipzig

The German National Library is more than 100 years old and has a history that dates back even further. The library is an archival library, which collects all books published in the German language. The image below is from the newest addition to the Leipzig branch, while the other branch is in Frankfurt.

University Library Heidelberg

The University Library Heidelberg is the main library of the University of Heidelberg. The library stores 3.2 million books and is, despite its affiliation to the university, open to the public. The building was finished in 1905, although a library has been at this site since the 17th century.

Hamburg University Library

The Hamburg University Library was first built in 1479. It is the central reading room and archive for the University of Hamburg and is an academic resource for Hamburg residents. As part of the German Research Foundation, the Hamburg University Library collects rare manuscripts from around the world.

Herzog August Library

The Herzog August Library, in Saxony’s Wolfenbüttel, known also as Bibliotheca Augusta, is a library with ancient roots. It is an internationally important library with a significant collection from the Middle Ages and Early modern Europe.

Jacob und Wilhelm Grimm Zentrum, Humboldt Universität zu Berlin

Opened in 2009, a five minute walk from Humboldt University’s main campus, the Grimm Zentrum is the main library for HU Berlin. Realized by the architect Max Dudler, the Grimm Zentrum is a massive 20,296 square meters of space and contains two and a half million books.

Inside the Grimm Zentrum University Library Humblot Universität zu Berlin

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