Discover Austria’s most beautiful libraries, from grand Baroque halls to modern architectural icons that every book lover must visit.
The way to a bookworm’s heart is a good library, and Austria certainly has some of the finest out there.
From the magnificent WU Wien Library and Learning Center to the monumental Vorarlberg State Library, here’s our wrap-up of Austria’s most beautiful libraries.
Austrian National Library
Get ready to be blown away by the Austrian National Library, which is the biggest Baroque-style library in all of Europe. With more than 200,000 texts, all dating between 1501 and 1850, it’s a remarkable historical collection.
The highlight for us is the iconic State Hall, which is characterized by its highly detailed frescoes crafted by the likes of Daniel Gran. Other notable features include the massive dome and imposing statues scattered throughout the space.
Address: Josefsplatz 1, 1010 Wien, Austria
Opening hours:
– Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday to Sunday: 9AM – 6PM
– Thursday: 9AM – 9PM
– Monday: Closed
Austrian Academy of Sciences Library
Some libraries just leave a strong impression on you, and the Austrian Academy of Sciences Library is one of them. Perhaps it’s the long hall layout, or the shelves of scientific research books lining both walls, while alluring frescoes emerge above them. Whatever the reason, it’s a real masterpiece.
A number of intriguing book collections can be found at the Austrian Academy of Sciences Library, including the Woldan Collection, which has a unique variety of maps and atlases. Best of all, entry is free for everyone, so you don’t have to spend a penny to visit.
Address: Doktor-Ignaz-Seipel-Platz 2, 1010 Wien, Austria
Opening hours:
– Monday to Friday: 8AM – 5PM
– Saturday and Sunday: Closed
WU Wien Library and Learning Center (Vienna University of Economics and Business)
When you come across a library like the WU Wien Library and Learning Center at the Vienna University of Economics and Business, you’ll be instantly taken by surprise, especially by the architecture. The building was designed by famed architect Zaha Hadid and stands out for its cantilevered roof.
The literary options here are just as good as the layout, with an estimated 650,000 volumes available in total. Since this is a specialist facility, many of the texts are centered around economics and business.
Address: Welthandelspl. 1, 1020 Wien, Austria
Opening hours:
– Monday to Saturday: 8PM – 10PM
– Sunday: Closed
Vorarlberg State Library (Vorarlberger Landesbibliothek)
Out in the city of Bregenz lies the Vorarlberg State Library, which serves as a research library as well as a repository for literature related to the region of Vorarlberg.
Visitors can find everything from classic books and journals to manuscripts here. But it’s the surroundings that really steal the show, as the library is housed in a former Baroque church with a majestic reading room that you won’t be able to take your eyes off.
Address: Fluherstraße 4, 6900 Bregenz, Austria
Opening hours:
– Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday: 9AM – 5PM
– Wednesday: 9AM – 7:30PM
– Saturday: 9AM – 1PM
– Sunday: Closed
Admont Abbey Library
The Benedictine Admont Abbey is an attraction in itself, but book lovers visit here for more than just sightseeing. Without a doubt, its library has been named the fifth most beautiful in the world by the 1,000 Libraries community of book lovers. They come in search of the world’s largest monastic library, the Admont Abbey Library, with its jaw-droppingly gorgeous hall that dates back to 1776.
Behind the walls of the Admont Abbey Library, visitors are treated to over 70,000 volumes, elaborate ceiling paintings, and white bookcases that blend seamlessly into the walls. Since it is a monastic library, there are many interesting religious books on show, including unique versions of the Bible.
Address: Kirchplatz 1, 8911 Admont, Austria
Opening hours:
March 20, April, May, October to December 13:
– Wednesday to Sunday: 10:30AM – 3:30PM
– Monday and Tuesday: Closed
June to September:
– Tuesday to Sunday: 10AM – 5PM
– Monday: Closed
Altenburg Abbey Library
Up in the northeast of the country lies the Altenburg Abbey Library, which can be found at the monumental Baroque monastery of Altenburg Abbey. The construction of the library was led by Abbot Placidus Much between 1740 and 1744, and it remains very much intact today.
A long corridor runs through the building, where the library is, divided by different domes decorated with fabulous frescoes, a recurring trend in many Austrian libraries. Just be sure to check whether there’s an event when you want to visit, as the library may close entirely if there is.
Address: Abt-Placidus-Much-Straße 1, 3591 Altenburg, Austria
Opening hours:
– Please visit their official website. Opening times vary depending on the time of year.
Klosterneuburg Abbey Library
Another abbey library that you’re bound to love in Austria is the Klosterneuburg Abbey Library. It holds around 300,000 volumes, including some particularly interesting medieval manuscripts. These are sure to captivate readers, as will the mix of Romanesque and Baroque elements showcased throughout the grounds.
What’s great about this one is that you don’t have to travel far, as you do with many of the others on this list. It’s less than a 30-minute drive from Vienna’s city center, so you can easily pop over to see it even if you’re here for a short visit.
Address: Stiftspl. 1, 3400 Klosterneuburg, Austria
Opening hours:
– Monday to Sunday: 10AM – 4PM
Melk Abbey Library
Nestled along the banks of the Danube River, the Melk Abbey Library has undergone many changes over the years, yet it remains a clear favorite among bibliophiles. Whether it’s the Baroque redesign or later expansions like the Upper Library, there’s no doubt these have had a positive impact on an already impressive facility.
It’s estimated that around 100,000 texts are kept here today, with the main room showcasing about 16,000. Currently, new restoration work is taking place at the library and is expected to run until 2032, so don’t be surprised if some areas are closed off during your visit.
Address: Stiftsstr. 1, 3390 Melk, Austria
Opening hours:
– Please visit their official website. Opening times vary depending on the time of year.
Schlägl Monastery Library
If you plan on checking out some of Austria’s many monastery libraries, make sure to add the Schlägl Monastery Library to your list. Established in 1852, this neo-Baroque library contains 100,000 texts spanning a wide range of topics, offering a well-rounded collection.
Bear in mind that entry to the Schlägl Monastery Library is ticketed, with different prices depending on whether you’re visiting as an individual or as part of a group. It’s also possible to stay overnight at the monastery if you’re looking for a truly unique experience.
Address: Schlägl 1, 4160 Schlägl, Austria
Opening hours:
– Monday to Friday: 8AM – 12PM and 1PM – 5PM
– Saturday: 8AM – 12PM and 1PM – 4PM
– Sunday: 9AM – 12PM and 1PM – 4PM
Reichersberg Abbey Library
A part of the Reichersberg Abbey itself, the library here is one every avid reader should definitely add to their list. It takes elegance to a whole new level, with decorative columns, ornate wooden bookshelves, and display tables running through the center that hold a wealth of historic texts.
The library is a regular feature on tours of Reichersberg Abbey, where visitors can not only marvel at the varied archive but also explore the grounds. You’ll have the chance to see how the priest community that still lives here goes about its daily life.
Address: Hofmark 1, 4981 Reichersberg am Inn, Austria
Opening hours:
– Monday to Thursday: 8AM – 12PM and 1PM – 5PM
– Friday: 8AM – 12PM
– Saturday and Sunday: Closed
Kremsmünster Abbey Library
The highlight of every visit to Kremsmünster Abbey is its library, with an estimated 230,000 volumes. Some of these can be traced back as far as the 16th century, along with exceptional manuscripts such as the Codex Millenarius, which is around 1,200 years old.
When you visit Kremsmünster Abbey, you won’t just get to stroll around the grounds; you’ll also be able to admire the beauty of the library itself. From the stunning ceiling artwork to the detailed stucco garlands, it’s full of incredible details.
Address: Stift 1, 4550 Kremsmünster, Austria
Opening hours:
– The library is accessible via guided tours; visit the official website for details.
St. Florian Monastery Library
St. Florian Monastery Library is a real architectural gem. Tucked away in a Baroque-style hall, it’s characterized by towering shelves stretching from floor to ceiling and a total of around 160,000 volumes, some even dating from before 1900.
You can only visit the St. Florian Monastery Library on a guided tour, which typically runs from May to October. The upside is that you’ll also get to witness other highlights of the property, such as the Marble Hall and the Altdorfer Altar.
Address: Stiftstraße 1, 4490 St. Florian, Austria
Opening hours:
– Please visit the official website. Opening times vary depending on the time of year.
Garden Palais Liechtenstein Library
The Liechtenstein Garden Palace has long been a stop on many people’s itineraries when visiting the Austrian capital. Inside, though, there’s also a fantastic library with around 100,000 volumes on many different subjects. All of them are kept in this lavishly decorated space, with dignified bookcases and statues placed neatly beside each one.
Tours of the Garden Palace library at Liechtenstein Garden Palace are only available on Fridays, and they don’t take place every week. If you’re lucky enough to secure a spot, they are conducted in German, with English available through an audio guide.
Address: Fürstengasse 1, 1090 Wien, Austria
Opening hours:
– Accessible by guided tour only; please visit the official website for details.
Seitenstetten Abbey Library
Few libraries leave such an immediate impression as the Seitenstetten Abbey Library. The moment you step into the rectangular hall, it takes you by surprise with its wooden balcony gallery, vaulted ceilings, and exhibition displays.
In total, Seitenstetten Abbey Library has about 90,000 volumes, along with several unique items, including around 270 handwritten manuscripts from the medieval period.
Address: Am Klosterberg 1, 3353 Seitenstetten, Austria
Opening hours:
– Can only be visited on a guided tour, with times varying throughout the year; visit the official website for details.
Göttweig Abbey Library (Stift Göttweig)
The Göttweig Abbey Library (Stift Göttweig) in Lower Austria sits inside a Benedictine monastery and is an absolute treasure. This exact repository of 150,000 volumes has remained here since the 1730s, as part of it has always been in the monastery’s northern wing, spread across six different rooms.
Sadly, the Göttweig Abbey Library itself isn’t open to the public, as visitors aren’t allowed inside. Still, that shouldn’t stop you from making the trip, as Göttweig Abbey is definitely worth seeing if you’re in the area.
Address: Stift Göttweig 1, 3511 Furth bei Göttweig, Austria
Opening hours:
– Monday to Sunday: 10AM – 6PM
Lilienfeld Abbey Library (Stift Lilienfeld)
Lilienfeld Abbey’s library rests in the south wing of the complex, and it’s the design that immediately catches your eye. Around 40,000 volumes, many of which have been here since the 1700s, rest on pristine wooden shelves lining the back wall, with a rolling library ladder in front and a serene, low arched ceiling above.
Some of the books on display at the Lilienfeld Abbey Library are incredibly old, including Bibles from the 1520s, making it a real treat for anyone who’s a fan of antique items.
Address: Klosterrotte 1, 3180 Lilienfeld, Austria
Opening hours:
– Monday and Wednesday to Saturday: 9AM – 12PM and 1:30PM to 4:30PM
– Tuesday: 9AM – 12PM and 1:30PM to 4:00PM
– Sunday: 11AM – 12PM
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Adam Ryan
Adam is a distinguished content writer, bookworm, and full-time adventurer with a constant craving for coffee. When he's not working, he loves exploring remote corners of the world, immersing himself in different cultures, and writing about his experiences.
