Let's get a bit cultural and look at some particular architecture. Libraries are often a bit underestimated and forgotten about during sight seeing tours (probably because they are usually not in the city centre) but they can be amazing and definitely worth a look. Especially the libraries of big universities offer a lot more than just books.
So here are some great libraries in Europe in a row; each with some pictures and one interesting fact.
Brotherton Library - Leeds
I will start with the library of my old university in Leeds. We had several libraries, but this one was definitely the most beautiful one. You could enter it through the main building of the campus (with the clock tower). The steps leading to the building are probably the most popular meeting spot in all of the campus (resulting in that you really have to search for the person you are meeting).
Fun fact; each year during Leeds Light night you can come to the Brotherton library to listen to ghost stories. This attraction is so popular that the tickets are always sold out.
Ps. The position of the several entrances of the building you need to enter to get to the library create an almost non-stop wind bridge that makes it a real challenge to open the door and to enter the library.
Bodleian Library - Oxford
I worked in a summer camp in Oxford two years ago and I was lucky enough to wander around this pretty city a lot. It's library is always a popular attraction for tourists as well as (research) students, because a lot of original copies of books and journals can be found here.
Fun fact: The Bodleian library does not lent out any books; so you are not allowed to take them outside at all and you will have to read everything inside the library.
Openbare Bibliotheek van Amsterdam
I have never visited, but maybe I should. This building looks so modern and light. It would be great to check out all the fashionable furniture.
Fun fact: This is the biggest library of the Netherlands and has won a price for being the most environmental friendly public building (2008).
Bibliothèque Nationale de France - Paris
I am a bit confused about how that square outside building contains that round inside. But several Google attempts confirm that all pictures are really the BnF, supposedly even on the same location. Maybe I should go and check for myself next time I am in Paris.
Fun fact Because Napoleon liked this library so much he made it a requirement that at least one copy of every book published in France can be found in this library.
Berlin Public Library
A quite impressive sort of big glass egg. It looks so cool! It must be great to be able to watch outside from all sides through these endless windows. I imagine this will be very distracting though if you are trying to study.
Fun fact: The structure and materials that are used in the building allow it to be heated and cooled using solar energy.
National Library of Lisbon
Looks simple and square from the outside, but like the library version of Versailles on the inside. So this is really something you would have to know about before you visit, because the building itself does not make you want to enter. But is surely seems worth seeing!
Fun fact: This is the biggest library of Portugal and contains more than 7000 works in Braille.
Florence National Central Library
We all know that Italians and architecture are a good match. This library proves that again. The height of the ceiling and the big windows must make it a dazzling place.
Fun fact: Again, the largest library of the country. But also (ok, this is not fun, but still a fact) due to a flood of the Arno River in 1966, the library lost a big part of its collection (almost one third!). Luckily, part of that could be restored.
Biblioteca Nacional de España - Madrid
This is one that is more interesting from the outside than from the inside While the inside is quite simple, the front of the building is decorated with a great façade, statues, pillars and big stone steps. Surely a photo opportunity.
Fun fact: This library is said to be one of the largest libraries in the world and played a key role in making all Spanish bibliographic output (important for Spains cultural heritage) available for national as well as international research and education purposes.
Trinity College Library Dublin
This one kind of freaks me out with its long straight, very symmetric, hallways. But on the other hand, it's also beautiful and impressive. When I was in Dublin, I have visited the university grounds but I have not entered the building unfortunately.
Fun fact: The students of Dublin have the belief that it brings bad luck to walk under the arch you see on the first picture before graduation. That's why you can see many people waling around it all the time. At the time I was there I had just handed in my thesis, so I did not want to jinx anything and walked around the arch as well.
Royal Library Copenhagen
These Nordic people know how to build some impressive things! The location is amazing and the shapes of the building are really interesting as well. I would surely not get much reading done here since here since the view is just mesmerizing.
Fun fact: Between 1968 and 1978 the library had to deal with one of the largest book thefts in history. Around 1600 books (including important historical prints by authors such as Martin Luther and Immanuel Kant) with a worth of over 50 million dollar got stolen. The thief only got caught in 2003 when his family was trying to sell a stolen book at an auction.
Vilnius University Library
A super modern and design-ey looking library that might as well have been a museum. Especially that last picture really impresses me. I wanted to visit Vilnius anyway (I feel like I need to start visiting other parts of Europe than I have been now), so this building is on my to-see wish list already. Good news for me: You can sign up for a guided university and library tour online and this costs just 3,50 Euro or 1,50 Euro if you are a student.
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