The most beautiful libraries in the world

Joanina Library, Portugal, The Royal Portuguese Cabinet of Reading, Brazil, Library of the National Palace of Mafra, Portugal, Beitou Library, Taiwan, El Escorial, Spain, Stuttgart Library, Germany, Bibliotheca Alexandrina, Egypt, Biblioteca Vasconcelos, Mexico, Trinity College Library, Ireland, Clementinum Library, Czech Republic, Admont Abbey Library, Austria, John Rylands University Library, England, Musashino Art University Library, Japan, Stockholm Public Library, Sweden, Cuypers Library, the Netherlands, New York Public Library, United States, George Peabody Library, United States

Libraries are one of the cornerstones of modern society, and though technology continues to change, libraries have not lost their importance.

Take a look through the gallery to see the incredible libraries around the world which are famous for their architecture or historical significance.

Joanina Library, Portugal

Joanina Library, Portugal, The Royal Portuguese Cabinet of Reading, Brazil, Library of the National Palace of Mafra, Portugal, Beitou Library, Taiwan, El Escorial, Spain, Stuttgart Library, Germany, Bibliotheca Alexandrina, Egypt, Biblioteca Vasconcelos, Mexico, Trinity College Library, Ireland, Clementinum Library, Czech Republic, Admont Abbey Library, Austria, John Rylands University Library, England, Musashino Art University Library, Japan, Stockholm Public Library, Sweden, Cuypers Library, the Netherlands, New York Public Library, United States, George Peabody Library, United States

The Joanina Library is located in the University of Coimbra, built in the 18th century by King John V of Portugal.

The Royal Portuguese Cabinet of Reading, Brazil

Joanina Library, Portugal, The Royal Portuguese Cabinet of Reading, Brazil, Library of the National Palace of Mafra, Portugal, Beitou Library, Taiwan, El Escorial, Spain, Stuttgart Library, Germany, Bibliotheca Alexandrina, Egypt, Biblioteca Vasconcelos, Mexico, Trinity College Library, Ireland, Clementinum Library, Czech Republic, Admont Abbey Library, Austria, John Rylands University Library, England, Musashino Art University Library, Japan, Stockholm Public Library, Sweden, Cuypers Library, the Netherlands, New York Public Library, United States, George Peabody Library, United States

This beautiful library is located in Rio de Janeiro.

Joanina Library, Portugal, The Royal Portuguese Cabinet of Reading, Brazil, Library of the National Palace of Mafra, Portugal, Beitou Library, Taiwan, El Escorial, Spain, Stuttgart Library, Germany, Bibliotheca Alexandrina, Egypt, Biblioteca Vasconcelos, Mexico, Trinity College Library, Ireland, Clementinum Library, Czech Republic, Admont Abbey Library, Austria, John Rylands University Library, England, Musashino Art University Library, Japan, Stockholm Public Library, Sweden, Cuypers Library, the Netherlands, New York Public Library, United States, George Peabody Library, United States

It was inaugurated in 1887, and holds the largest collection of Portuguese language literature outside of Portugal.

Library of the National Palace of Mafra, Portugal

Joanina Library, Portugal, The Royal Portuguese Cabinet of Reading, Brazil, Library of the National Palace of Mafra, Portugal, Beitou Library, Taiwan, El Escorial, Spain, Stuttgart Library, Germany, Bibliotheca Alexandrina, Egypt, Biblioteca Vasconcelos, Mexico, Trinity College Library, Ireland, Clementinum Library, Czech Republic, Admont Abbey Library, Austria, John Rylands University Library, England, Musashino Art University Library, Japan, Stockholm Public Library, Sweden, Cuypers Library, the Netherlands, New York Public Library, United States, George Peabody Library, United States

One of the gems of the historical city of Mafra, the library is located inside the palace. It has marble floors and Rococo style bookshelves with a collection of more than 36,000 books and leather-bound, gold-engraved manuscripts.

Beitou Library, Taiwan

Joanina Library, Portugal, The Royal Portuguese Cabinet of Reading, Brazil, Library of the National Palace of Mafra, Portugal, Beitou Library, Taiwan, El Escorial, Spain, Stuttgart Library, Germany, Bibliotheca Alexandrina, Egypt, Biblioteca Vasconcelos, Mexico, Trinity College Library, Ireland, Clementinum Library, Czech Republic, Admont Abbey Library, Austria, John Rylands University Library, England, Musashino Art University Library, Japan, Stockholm Public Library, Sweden, Cuypers Library, the Netherlands, New York Public Library, United States, George Peabody Library, United States

This ecologically friendly library in Taipei first opened in 2006.

El Escorial, Spain

Joanina Library, Portugal, The Royal Portuguese Cabinet of Reading, Brazil, Library of the National Palace of Mafra, Portugal, Beitou Library, Taiwan, El Escorial, Spain, Stuttgart Library, Germany, Bibliotheca Alexandrina, Egypt, Biblioteca Vasconcelos, Mexico, Trinity College Library, Ireland, Clementinum Library, Czech Republic, Admont Abbey Library, Austria, John Rylands University Library, England, Musashino Art University Library, Japan, Stockholm Public Library, Sweden, Cuypers Library, the Netherlands, New York Public Library, United States, George Peabody Library, United States

This impressive renaissance-style library, founded by Philip II in a monastery, is located in San Lorenzo de El Escorial.

Stuttgart Library, Germany

Joanina Library, Portugal, The Royal Portuguese Cabinet of Reading, Brazil, Library of the National Palace of Mafra, Portugal, Beitou Library, Taiwan, El Escorial, Spain, Stuttgart Library, Germany, Bibliotheca Alexandrina, Egypt, Biblioteca Vasconcelos, Mexico, Trinity College Library, Ireland, Clementinum Library, Czech Republic, Admont Abbey Library, Austria, John Rylands University Library, England, Musashino Art University Library, Japan, Stockholm Public Library, Sweden, Cuypers Library, the Netherlands, New York Public Library, United States, George Peabody Library, United States

This nine-story cube-shaped building contains one of the world's most impressive libraries.

Bibliotheca Alexandrina, Egypt

Joanina Library, Portugal, The Royal Portuguese Cabinet of Reading, Brazil, Library of the National Palace of Mafra, Portugal, Beitou Library, Taiwan, El Escorial, Spain, Stuttgart Library, Germany, Bibliotheca Alexandrina, Egypt, Biblioteca Vasconcelos, Mexico, Trinity College Library, Ireland, Clementinum Library, Czech Republic, Admont Abbey Library, Austria, John Rylands University Library, England, Musashino Art University Library, Japan, Stockholm Public Library, Sweden, Cuypers Library, the Netherlands, New York Public Library, United States, George Peabody Library, United States

This fantastic library was built to honor the memory of the original library of Alexandria, which was destroyed over a thousand years ago.

Biblioteca Vasconcelos, Mexico

Joanina Library, Portugal, The Royal Portuguese Cabinet of Reading, Brazil, Library of the National Palace of Mafra, Portugal, Beitou Library, Taiwan, El Escorial, Spain, Stuttgart Library, Germany, Bibliotheca Alexandrina, Egypt, Biblioteca Vasconcelos, Mexico, Trinity College Library, Ireland, Clementinum Library, Czech Republic, Admont Abbey Library, Austria, John Rylands University Library, England, Musashino Art University Library, Japan, Stockholm Public Library, Sweden, Cuypers Library, the Netherlands, New York Public Library, United States, George Peabody Library, United States

The spectacular Biblioteca Vasconcelos in Mexico City was inaugurated just over a decade ago.

Trinity College Library, Ireland

Joanina Library, Portugal, The Royal Portuguese Cabinet of Reading, Brazil, Library of the National Palace of Mafra, Portugal, Beitou Library, Taiwan, El Escorial, Spain, Stuttgart Library, Germany, Bibliotheca Alexandrina, Egypt, Biblioteca Vasconcelos, Mexico, Trinity College Library, Ireland, Clementinum Library, Czech Republic, Admont Abbey Library, Austria, John Rylands University Library, England, Musashino Art University Library, Japan, Stockholm Public Library, Sweden, Cuypers Library, the Netherlands, New York Public Library, United States, George Peabody Library, United States

Located in Trinity College, Dublin, this is the biggest library in Ireland. You may recognize the Long Room as the setting of numerous movies.

Clementinum Library, Czech Republic

Joanina Library, Portugal, The Royal Portuguese Cabinet of Reading, Brazil, Library of the National Palace of Mafra, Portugal, Beitou Library, Taiwan, El Escorial, Spain, Stuttgart Library, Germany, Bibliotheca Alexandrina, Egypt, Biblioteca Vasconcelos, Mexico, Trinity College Library, Ireland, Clementinum Library, Czech Republic, Admont Abbey Library, Austria, John Rylands University Library, England, Musashino Art University Library, Japan, Stockholm Public Library, Sweden, Cuypers Library, the Netherlands, New York Public Library, United States, George Peabody Library, United States

The Clementinum, an historic baroque-style building, has been home to the Prague National Library for more than two centuries.

Admont Abbey Library, Austria

Joanina Library, Portugal, The Royal Portuguese Cabinet of Reading, Brazil, Library of the National Palace of Mafra, Portugal, Beitou Library, Taiwan, El Escorial, Spain, Stuttgart Library, Germany, Bibliotheca Alexandrina, Egypt, Biblioteca Vasconcelos, Mexico, Trinity College Library, Ireland, Clementinum Library, Czech Republic, Admont Abbey Library, Austria, John Rylands University Library, England, Musashino Art University Library, Japan, Stockholm Public Library, Sweden, Cuypers Library, the Netherlands, New York Public Library, United States, George Peabody Library, United States

This impressive library sits in the small Austrian town of Admont and is the world's biggest monastic library. Nowadays it has over 180,000 works, including 1,400 manuscripts, ancient volumes and original editions of rare works.

John Rylands University Library, England

Joanina Library, Portugal, The Royal Portuguese Cabinet of Reading, Brazil, Library of the National Palace of Mafra, Portugal, Beitou Library, Taiwan, El Escorial, Spain, Stuttgart Library, Germany, Bibliotheca Alexandrina, Egypt, Biblioteca Vasconcelos, Mexico, Trinity College Library, Ireland, Clementinum Library, Czech Republic, Admont Abbey Library, Austria, John Rylands University Library, England, Musashino Art University Library, Japan, Stockholm Public Library, Sweden, Cuypers Library, the Netherlands, New York Public Library, United States, George Peabody Library, United States

The John Rylands University Library is the center for information at the University of Manchester.

Musashino Art University Library, Japan

Joanina Library, Portugal, The Royal Portuguese Cabinet of Reading, Brazil, Library of the National Palace of Mafra, Portugal, Beitou Library, Taiwan, El Escorial, Spain, Stuttgart Library, Germany, Bibliotheca Alexandrina, Egypt, Biblioteca Vasconcelos, Mexico, Trinity College Library, Ireland, Clementinum Library, Czech Republic, Admont Abbey Library, Austria, John Rylands University Library, England, Musashino Art University Library, Japan, Stockholm Public Library, Sweden, Cuypers Library, the Netherlands, New York Public Library, United States, George Peabody Library, United States

The incredible design of the Musashino Art University is what makes it stand out.

Stockholm Public Library, Sweden

Joanina Library, Portugal, The Royal Portuguese Cabinet of Reading, Brazil, Library of the National Palace of Mafra, Portugal, Beitou Library, Taiwan, El Escorial, Spain, Stuttgart Library, Germany, Bibliotheca Alexandrina, Egypt, Biblioteca Vasconcelos, Mexico, Trinity College Library, Ireland, Clementinum Library, Czech Republic, Admont Abbey Library, Austria, John Rylands University Library, England, Musashino Art University Library, Japan, Stockholm Public Library, Sweden, Cuypers Library, the Netherlands, New York Public Library, United States, George Peabody Library, United States

Located in a Swedish classical building from the 1920s, it was designed by Gunnar Asplund and opened in 1928 with Prince Eugene as a guest.

Cuypers Library, the Netherlands

Joanina Library, Portugal, The Royal Portuguese Cabinet of Reading, Brazil, Library of the National Palace of Mafra, Portugal, Beitou Library, Taiwan, El Escorial, Spain, Stuttgart Library, Germany, Bibliotheca Alexandrina, Egypt, Biblioteca Vasconcelos, Mexico, Trinity College Library, Ireland, Clementinum Library, Czech Republic, Admont Abbey Library, Austria, John Rylands University Library, England, Musashino Art University Library, Japan, Stockholm Public Library, Sweden, Cuypers Library, the Netherlands, New York Public Library, United States, George Peabody Library, United States

Academics, art historians and tourists from around the world visit this place and are stunned by the architecture and huge variety of books on offer.

New York Public Library, United States

Joanina Library, Portugal, The Royal Portuguese Cabinet of Reading, Brazil, Library of the National Palace of Mafra, Portugal, Beitou Library, Taiwan, El Escorial, Spain, Stuttgart Library, Germany, Bibliotheca Alexandrina, Egypt, Biblioteca Vasconcelos, Mexico, Trinity College Library, Ireland, Clementinum Library, Czech Republic, Admont Abbey Library, Austria, John Rylands University Library, England, Musashino Art University Library, Japan, Stockholm Public Library, Sweden, Cuypers Library, the Netherlands, New York Public Library, United States, George Peabody Library, United States

Right in Manhattan is one of the US' most important libraries.

Joanina Library, Portugal, The Royal Portuguese Cabinet of Reading, Brazil, Library of the National Palace of Mafra, Portugal, Beitou Library, Taiwan, El Escorial, Spain, Stuttgart Library, Germany, Bibliotheca Alexandrina, Egypt, Biblioteca Vasconcelos, Mexico, Trinity College Library, Ireland, Clementinum Library, Czech Republic, Admont Abbey Library, Austria, John Rylands University Library, England, Musashino Art University Library, Japan, Stockholm Public Library, Sweden, Cuypers Library, the Netherlands, New York Public Library, United States, George Peabody Library, United States

The building has been used in films like 'Ghostbusters,' 'Spider-Man' and even the series 'Sex and the City.'

George Peabody Library, United States

Joanina Library, Portugal, The Royal Portuguese Cabinet of Reading, Brazil, Library of the National Palace of Mafra, Portugal, Beitou Library, Taiwan, El Escorial, Spain, Stuttgart Library, Germany, Bibliotheca Alexandrina, Egypt, Biblioteca Vasconcelos, Mexico, Trinity College Library, Ireland, Clementinum Library, Czech Republic, Admont Abbey Library, Austria, John Rylands University Library, England, Musashino Art University Library, Japan, Stockholm Public Library, Sweden, Cuypers Library, the Netherlands, New York Public Library, United States, George Peabody Library, United States

Found in the Johns Hopkins University, this library has over 300,000 volumes inside.

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