Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All Switzerland St. Gallen Abbey Library of Saint Gall

Abbey Library of Saint Gall

This is not only one of the oldest collections in Europe, but also possibly the most beautiful.

St. Gallen, Switzerland

Added By
jani7mc2
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
CAPTION
Abbey Library of Saint Gall   chippee on Wikipedia
Abbey Library of Saint Gall   Chapeaumelon on Wikipedia
Abbey Library of Saint Gall   Raphaël Labbé on Flickr
8/2024   mmwoodrufff / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

There are beautiful old libraries, and then there is the Abbey Library of Saint Gall, which may not only be one of the oldest surviving libraries in Europe, but certainly one of the most beautiful. According to the Abbey of Saint Gall's website (Abtei St. Gallen in German), the earliest evidence of a library collection on the site dates back to around 820 CE, in plans that show a library attached to the main church.

The Abbey is said to have followed the Rule of St. Benedict, a portion of which prescribes the study of literature, should a library be available, so it is no wonder that the abbey itself would have been built with one. As the abbey grew over the years, so did its library, and soon the site became known for its collection of illuminated manuscripts and writings, as well as a leading center for science and Western culture around the 10th century. In the mid-18th century, the world-renowned collection was moved to a new library space which was lavishly decorated in a Baroque rococo style. Elaborate artworks were installed in the ceiling which was framed by flowing, curved moldings, giving the space a timeless and fantastical aspect.

The wooden balconies are shaped into flowering shapes and designs. Oh, and the books from the historic collection are also on display if you can look past their surroundings to pay attention to them. Today the library at St. Gall is still considered nearly unrivaled in its beauty. It also now holds one of the more important collections in the world, covering 12 centuries of non-stop collecting. The collection even includes the first example of an architectural plan on parchment. But take your nose out of that book and revel in one of the most stunning libraries ever.

Related Tags

Libraries Architecture Architectural Oddities

Know Before You Go

Before you go, be aware that cameras are not allowed into the library, although phone pictures without flash are permitted. You will be asked to put on slippers over your shoes to protect the wooden floor.

Community Contributors

Added By

jani7mc2

Edited By

parmenides1, ahirshon, rereads247, Blue Jay Away...

  • parmenides1
  • ahirshon
  • rereads247
  • Blue Jay Away
  • EricGrundhauser
  • mmwoodrufff

Published

August 28, 2015

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/268
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abbey_library_of_Saint_Gall
Abbey Library of Saint Gall
Klosterhof 6D
St. Gallen, 9000
Switzerland
47.422782, 9.376437
Visit Website
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Museum im Lagerhaus

St. Gallen, Switzerland

miles away

Null Stern Hotel Museum

Teufen, Switzerland

miles away

Dreamfactory's World of Wonders

Degersheim, Switzerland

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of St. Gallen

St. Gallen

Switzerland

Places 2

Nearby Places

Museum im Lagerhaus

St. Gallen, Switzerland

miles away

Null Stern Hotel Museum

Teufen, Switzerland

miles away

Dreamfactory's World of Wonders

Degersheim, Switzerland

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of St. Gallen

St. Gallen

Switzerland

Places 2

Related Stories and Lists

39 New Places in the Second-Edition Atlas Obscura Book

List

By Dylan Thuras

Related Places

  • Birmingham Library

    Birmingham, England

    Library of Birmingham

    The largest public library in the United Kingdom was designed to reflect the industrial and artistic history of the city where it stands.

  • The tunnel of books.

    Yangzhou Shi, China

    Yangzhou Zhongshuge

    Mirrored floors and arched shelves create the illusion of an infinite tunnel of books.

  • Stockholm Public Library

    Stockholm, Sweden

    Stadsbiblioteket (Stockholm Public Library)

    The library's graceful rotunda is like a bibliophile's temple.

  • Alternate view from the second floor

    Washington, D.C.

    Riggs Library

    A wondrous old library overlooking the nation's capital.

  • Exterior of Centre Pompidou

    Paris, France

    Centre Pompidou

    An "inside out" building in the historical center of Paris, featuring Europe’s largest modern art museum.

  • Baltimore, Maryland

    George Peabody Library

    It's not hard to see why the historic Peabody Conservatory of Music's library has been described as a "cathedral of books."

  • Bibliotheque Mejanes

    Aix-en-Provence, France

    Bibliotheque Mejanes

    A French library that makes sure its love of books is writ large... giant in fact.

  • View of the “books.”

    Kansas City, Missouri

    Kansas City Library's Community Bookshelf

    Community bookshelf of 25-foot-tall book spines.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.