In 2025, as per the opinions of 200,000 avid readers, the most exquisite libraries and bookstores the world has to offer were identified.
The Admont Abbey Library in Austria Shortlisted for the 1000 Libraries Awards
The Admont Abbey Library in Austria, renowned for its Baroque architectural brilliance and stunning interior art, has been shortlisted for the 1000 Libraries Awards. This prestigious recognition comes as the library may offer vital lessons about the visual allure of beautiful book spaces.
Located in Austria, the Admont Abbey Library is a cultural icon and a travel destination. Designed by Josef Hueber and completed in 1776, it is the world’s largest monastic library hall, boasting an immense main hall, approximately 70 meters long, 14 meters wide, and a height reaching up to 13 meters at the central oval dome. The library is divided into three longitudinal sections for harmony and symbolism.
The Baroque and Rococo interior design features floor-to-ceiling white shelving adorned with gilded filigree to maximize brightness and reflectivity. The marble mosaic floor, composed of over 7,000 small diamonds arranged in geometric patterns, adds dynamism and visual complexity to the space. The ceiling frescoes by Bartolomeo Altomonte represent branches of human knowledge, such as philosophy, theology, and science, reflecting Enlightenment ideals of learning and reason. Incorporating sculptures by Josef Stammel, the library's atmosphere is further enriched with themes like death, resurrection, and virtue.
The library's collection of over 70,000 volumes, including rare medieval manuscripts and incunabula, adds historical and scholarly significance. Its status as a cultural icon is further emphasized by its reputed inspiration for the library in Disney's Beauty and the Beast, highlighting its magical and artistic appeal.
The Admont Abbey Library was chosen from a global vote involving 200,000 readers, making it one of the top five most beautiful libraries in the world, as selected by the 1000 Libraries Awards. This recognition underscores the importance of visually striking and atmospheric libraries and bookstores that deserve to be travel destinations.
As the need for distinct "third places" outside home and work, especially amid a sea of homogenous malls, seems more needed in Singapore, the Admont Abbey Library may serve as an inspiration for the creation of such spaces. The visual allure of these beautiful book spaces may have something vital to teach us about the importance of creating inviting, intellectually stimulating, and historically significant spaces for the community.
References:
- Admont Abbey Library
- The Admont Abbey Library: A Stunning Baroque Library in Austria
- The Admont Abbey Library: A Baroque Masterpiece
- Disney's Beauty and the Beast: The Inspirations Behind the Library
- The Admont Abbey Library: A Monastic Treasure Trove
The Admont Abbey Library's prestigious recognition for the 1000 Libraries Awards could inspire the creation of lifestyle destinations in Singapore, such as home-and-garden stores or entertainment venues, incorporating the visual allure and intellectual stimulation seen in this Baroque library. Reading about the Admont Abbey Library's collection of books, including travel guides on Austria, could provide fascinating insights for those planning trips.
