Princes Czartoryski Library, Research library in Czartoryski Museum, Kraków, Poland.
Princes Czartoryski Library is a research library within the Czartoryski Museum in Krakow that holds more than 224,000 items in its collection. The holdings include rare manuscripts, historical documents, and books from earlier centuries kept in climate-controlled storage areas.
Princess Izabela Czartoryska founded the library in 1796 to protect Polish literature during an era when the nation faced foreign domination and political uncertainty. Its creation reflected a desire to safeguard the country's cultural memory and national identity for future generations.
The library holds medieval manuscripts and personal correspondence from major European thinkers, which visitors can view as part of the cultural heritage on display. These documents show Poland's connections to influential figures across the continent and their importance to Polish identity.
The library is located on Swietego Marka Street in Krakow and access is restricted to researchers who need to register in advance. Visitors should plan to allow enough time and come prepared with the materials needed for working with the collections.
The collection includes around 200 medieval manuscripts, of which roughly 80 are illuminated with colored images and gold leaf. Letters from early United States presidents are also held in the collection, showing the library's connections to the Americas.
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