Austrian National Library, National library and museum in Neue Burg, Vienna, Austria.
The Austrian National Library is located in the Neue Burg palace complex and contains millions of items spanning centuries of collecting. The Grand Hall displays historic books on wooden shelves that rise dramatically through multiple levels of the ornate interior space.
The institution was founded in the 14th century as the Habsburg imperial library and grew into one of Europe's major collections over the following centuries. It became the National Library following the collapse of the Austro-Hungarian Empire and the establishment of the Austrian Republic.
The library maintains four museums, specialized collections, and archives that document Austrian literary heritage through manuscripts, rare books, maps, and musical compositions.
The Grand Hall and connected spaces are open to visitors most weekdays, allowing you to walk through and view the collections up close. Plan enough time to also explore the adjoining museum exhibitions, which rotate regularly and offer different themes throughout the year.
The Grand Hall houses two oversized Venetian Baroque globes representing Earth and sky, crafted with intricate detail that draws attention from many visitors. These objects reveal how scholars of earlier times understood and documented the world around them.
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