This might be the most beautiful library I’ve ever seen. Not that all libraries aren’t inherently beautiful because they contain lots of lovely, lovely books – but this one is most definitely epic.
This…is a library?
The Grand Hall of the Austrian National library is unlike any library I’ve seen before and I’ve been to many grand houses. It’s 80m long, over 14m wide, and has a domed ceiling rising almost 20m above. The library was commissioned in Charles VI, designed by Johann Bernhard Fischer von Erlach and opened in the early eighteenth century.
It’s filled with vast wooden bookshelves, standing on two floors, elegant columns, commanding statues, baroque globes and plenty of gold-twirly bits. Above all this is a swirl of colourful frescoes across the ceiling. In truth, the books feel like a bit of an afterthought among all the finery. The whole place feels like it’s mostly there to “big-up” the ruling Habsburgs; even and the frescoes show Emperor Charles “becoming a God”.
Bring on the books
But this is still a library and the leather-bound tomes are still an impressive sight. There are over 200,000 books in the collection, from 1501 to 1850, including one of the biggest collections of Reformation writings by Martin Luther. The origins of the library lie in the medieval period with Duke Albert III. The oldest book in the collection belonged to him and dates, from 1368.
It costs 11 euros to enter, but if you have a Vienna Card or Pass you can get a discount, or even get in free. It’s not huge, but it’s certainly eye-opening, and they have special exhibitions to add another layer of interest.
Wordland 
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