In Photos: The Most Beautiful Libraries Across the Globe

There are plenty of beautiful places to visit on vacation, from jaw-dropping natural wonders to enchanting hideaways. But for your next excursion, why not travel somewhere a little more unexpected? We’re thinking… the library?

Even if you aren’t the biggest literary lover, there are libraries all over the world that should be appreciated for their architecture alone. From historic landmarks to modern masterpieces, we’ve rounded up the most beautiful libraries across the globe that every traveler needs to visit.

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El Escorial Royal Library; San Lorenzo de El Escorial, Spain

Located just miles from Spain’s capital city of Madrid, El Escorial Royal Library was completed in 1584 during the Spanish Renaissance in San Lorenzo de El Escorial for the royal family.

Thanks to its colored history, the entire structure—including the library—was declared a World Heritage Site by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in 1984. With luxurious frescos by artists like Pellegrino Tibaldi, the library currently has an inventory of more than 45,000 books.

 

George Peabody Library; Baltimore, Maryland

Also known as the “Cathedral of Books,” the George Peabody Library, designed by Baltimore architect Edmund George Lind, opened its doors in 1878. As you can see in the picture above, Lind’s vision come to life includes a massive skylight soaring over white cast iron balconies. Nowadays, the library is part of the Johns Hopkins University library network.

 

Admont Abbey Library; Admont, Austria

Designed by Austrian architect Josef Hueber and painted by Bartolomeo Altomonte, the beautiful gold-and-white library at Admont Abbey monastery was completed in 1776. The library holds around 70,000 books of the monastery’s full 200,000-plus collection—most notably, more than 1,400 manuscripts dating back to 8th century A.D. Currently, the Admont Abbey Library is the world’s largest monastery library.

 

Beitou Library; Taipei, Taiwan

The Beitou Library in Taipei, Taiwan, isn’t just beautiful. It’s eco-friendly, too! The library, which opened in 2006 as part of the city’s public library system, was designed by Taiwanese firm Bio-Architecture Formosana to curb water and electricity consumption. Surrounded by the greenery of Beitou Park, the treehouse-like library has more than 20,000 books for visitors to enjoy.

 

Library of Alexandria; Alexandria, Egypt

While the original Library of Alexandria (which was founded by Alexander the Great) burned down ages ago, its modern replacement is also something to marvel at. Completed in 2002, the library was designed by a Norwegian consultancy agency as part of an architectural design competition organized by UNESCO.

The new library is not meant to compete with the old, destroyed monument; instead, it’s intended to “revive, under a modern aspect, a unique world heritage in the cultural history of humankind,” according to former UNESCO director general Federico Mayor.

 

Royal Portuguese Reading Room; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

This massive library opened its doors in 1887, giving the citizens of Brazil access to the largest collection of Portuguese literature outside of Portugal. The unique combination of limestone, dark wood, and stained glass used to create the building makes it one of the most stunning libraries out there. And with nearly 350,000 works of literature, you could visit again and again and still find something new and exciting to read.

 

Strahov Library; Prague, Czech Republic

Founded in the 12th century, the Strahov Monastery is one of the oldest monasteries in the Czech Republic that still serves as a home to monks. Its library, which is comprised of the Theological Hall (built in the late 1600s) and the Philosophical Hall (built toward the end of the 1700s), has a collection of around 200,000 volumes.

 

Central Library; Mexico City, Mexico

This library in Mexico is admired for its striking, unique exterior. Located on the Ciudad Universitaria Campus of the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), the library’s facade is covered in murals painted by artist Juan O’Gorman. The entire university, including its unique library, was recognized as a World Heritage Site in 2007.

 

Public Library Stuttgart; Stuttgart, Germany

With its sleek white design, the Public Library Stuttgart really allows the literature lining its shelves to be the star of the show. The nine-story building, which was designed by Korean architect Eun Young Yi and opened to the public in 2011, was named the national Library of the Year by the German Library Association just two years after it opened.

 

Seattle Central Library; Seattle, Washington

Opened in 2004, this architecturally abstract library is a collaboration between Rem Koolhaas and Joshua Prince-Ramus. Thanks to its unique design, the building was included on the American Institute of Architects’ list of America’s 150 favorite structures in the United States. Standing 11 stories tall, the library is currently the flagship building for the Seattle Public Library system.