Home/Life architecture, bibliophile, bibliophilia, book, books, full-post, historic architecture, historic library, historical architecture, library, library architecture, reading room, travel ideas Robert Nash January 13, 2015

46+ Most Beautiful Libraries From Around The World

With the invention of the e-book, Libraries areÂ still great places we should visit. Old majestic Libraries can be some of the most beautiful places to see with their astonishing architecture, breathtaking interior design and treasured books from the past that have unmistakable smell about them. Some libraries from around the world will always be filled withÂ literary treasures that everyone should visit and remember.

If you’re travelling to another country make sure to add ancient libraries to your traveling list. Libraries were built to stand the test of time as they contain critical books about our history.

Did you know?

1. The worldâ€™s oldest library is the oldest continually running library in the world is at the St. Catherineâ€™s Monastery in the Sinai, Egypt. It was built in the middle of the 6th century and houses the second largest collection of religious material in the world (after the Vatican). However it is not accessibleÂ to the public, only by monks and invited scholars.<br>The bibliotheque de Paris (Library of Paris) combined with the National Library of France, is the oldest continually running public library service, dating back to 1368 when it was housed at the Louvre. It has moved several times over the past 700 years, into newer and larger accommodation. [Source]

2. The largest library in the world is The Library of Congress, with more than 158 million items on approximately 838 miles of bookshelves. The collections include more than 36 million books and other print materials, 3.5 million recordings, 13.7 million photographs, 5.5 million maps, 6.7 million pieces of sheet music and 69 million manuscripts. [Source]

3. The smallest library in the world has appeared on the streets of New York City â€“ and it has space for just one reader at a time.

For us book worms, libraries are sacred places that can be nearly impossible to leave once you enter. They are filled with decades or even centuries worth of knowledge, and the smell of old paper is often overwhelming for the faint of heart. Sure, the ancient libraries should be on your traveling list, but there are also plenty of new ones that are already considered to be pearls of modern architecture. This list covers the most impressiveÂ old and new libraries around the world!