Humanist Library of Sélestat, Renaissance library and literary museum in Sélestat, France
The Humanist Library houses extensive collections of manuscripts and printed books from the 15th and 16th centuries. The building has been redesigned by a contemporary architect to properly display these historical holdings.
The institution began in the 15th century as a Latin school where humanists developed and shared their ideas. Over time, important books accumulated that document this period of learning and intellectual exchange.
The collection preserves the personal library of a scholar who gathered books across his travels throughout Europe. These assembled volumes show how an educated person of the 16th century organized and valued knowledge.
Visitors can view the collections most weekdays, with guided tours available. It helps to check in advance if certain parts of the collection are temporarily closed for conservation reasons.
The collection holds a remarkable number of early printed books produced in the first decades of printing technology. These early printings show how quickly the new technique spread through learned circles.
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