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Precious Knowledge: 12 Amazing Libraries That Make You Adore Their Beauty

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There are many libraries in the world today which can provide people with something unobtainable even in the digital era, and some of them are not just temples of knowledge, but also magnificent ancient places offering readers a glimpse into history.

In the past, these libraries served as archives, art galleries, and laboratories, and were the proud intellectual repositories of monasteries or palaces. The prominent facilities in this list could also impress with their unique design and outstanding architectural decor, which turns the buildings themselves into miraculous works of art.

CC BY-SA 3.0 / Jorge Royan / The library of the 11th century abbey in Styria can boast that it is the largest monastic library in the world.
Admont Abbey Library, Austria - Sputnik International
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The library of the 11th century abbey in Styria can boast that it is the largest monastic library in the world.
CC BY-SA 2.0 / Rosino / Biblioteca do convento de Mafra, PortugalThis magnificent Rococo library contains thousands of leather-bound volumes, dating from the 14th to the 19th century. It is also famous for its homing bats, which protect the books from insect damage.
Library in the Mafra National Palace, Portugal. - Sputnik International
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This magnificent Rococo library contains thousands of leather-bound volumes, dating from the 14th to the 19th century. It is also famous for its homing bats, which protect the books from insect damage.
CC BY 4.0 / David Iliff / The 65-metre-long (213 ft) main chamber is a hallmark of the Irish library, which displays the iconic Book of Kells - a true masterpiece of elaborated medieval art.
The Library of Trinity College Dublin, Ireland - Sputnik International
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The 65-metre-long (213 ft) main chamber is a hallmark of the Irish library, which displays the iconic Book of Kells - a true masterpiece of elaborated medieval art.
CC BY-SA 2.0 / / The library has the largest collection of Portuguese works outside Portugal - a total of 350,000 volumes.
Royal Portuguese Cabinet of Reading in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil - Sputnik International
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The library has the largest collection of Portuguese works outside Portugal - a total of 350,000 volumes.
© Photo : Public DomainThe Abbey of Saint Gall, founded in the 8th century, can impress readers with ancient manuscripts (including the Song of the Nibelungs) and old printed books.
Abbey library of Saint Gall, Switzerland - Sputnik International
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The Abbey of Saint Gall, founded in the 8th century, can impress readers with ancient manuscripts (including the Song of the Nibelungs) and old printed books.
CC BY 2.0 / Marie-Lan Nguyen / A functional modern library building, a "temple of knowledge and space for contemplation," was built in 1850.
Sainte-Geneviève Library in Paris, France - Sputnik International
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A functional modern library building, a "temple of knowledge and space for contemplation," was built in 1850.
CC BY-SA 3.0 / Matthew Petroff / Interior of the George Peabody Library in BaltimoreThe library of the Johns Hopkins University was completed in 1878 and described as a "cathedral of books."
Interior of the George Peabody Library in Baltimore. - Sputnik International
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The library of the Johns Hopkins University was completed in 1878 and described as a "cathedral of books."
© AP Photo / Beth J. HarpazThe facility claims to be "the largest library in the world." It includes 32 million cataloged books and documents in 470 languages, and also contains more than 61 million manuscripts.
Library of Congress in Washington D.C. - Sputnik International
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The facility claims to be "the largest library in the world." It includes 32 million cataloged books and documents in 470 languages, and also contains more than 61 million manuscripts.
CC BY-SA 3.0 / Xauxa Håkan Svensson / Biblioteca del monasterio de San Lorenzo de El Escorial, (España)This magnificent library was created by King Felipe II of Spain, who sacrificed his own books for the facility in 1562, also ordering the purchase of valuable works from abroad.
Library of Escorial, Spain - Sputnik International
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This magnificent library was created by King Felipe II of Spain, who sacrificed his own books for the facility in 1562, also ordering the purchase of valuable works from abroad.
CC BY-SA 3.0 / / Strahov Theological Hall - Original Baroque Cabinets, PragueThe 800-year old library of the Czech monastery has a collection of 130,000 books, an outstanding art gallery and a Cabinet of curiosities.
Strahov Theological Hall - Original Baroque Cabinets, Prague. - Sputnik International
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The 800-year old library of the Czech monastery has a collection of 130,000 books, an outstanding art gallery and a Cabinet of curiosities.
CC BY-SA 3.0 / Zubro / National French library, Richelieu building (oval room)The Manuscripts department of the library contains the largest collection of medieval and modern manuscripts in the world.
Richelieu building of the National French library, Paris - Sputnik International
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The Manuscripts department of the library contains the largest collection of medieval and modern manuscripts in the world.
CC BY-SA 3.0 / Ralf Roletschek / Science library of Upper Lusatia in Görlitz, GermanyThis German library focuses on historic literature, and is also famous for its big collection of maps and atlases.
Science library of Upper Lusatia in Görlitz, Germany. - Sputnik International
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This German library focuses on historic literature, and is also famous for its big collection of maps and atlases.
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