Places where you can look at really old books

[MinnieMountain]

I'm trying to find places in Europe where it's possible to see really old and important books.

I'm currently in Trier and my absolute favourite thing today was visiting the room with the Codex Egberti in it.

I've tried to find other places with Really Old and Important Books, but the UNESCO world heritage list (which the Codex Egberti is on) seems to list places in wider terms.

Can anyone help? I've seen the Magna Carta in Lincoln and the special books room at the British Library.

Book of Kells at Trinity College, Dublin?

John Rylands library Manchester

Literally came on to say John rylan's library, I loved it

The old library at Trinity College Oxford opens a few days a year.
https://www.trinity.ox.ac.uk/special-collections

Coimbra in Portugal has the most amazing library!

Stockholm National Library has the Codex Gigas, also known as the Devil's Bible.

Free to enter and a nice cafe too.

The library at St John's college in Cambridge has some amazing old books. It's not open much though.

JP Morgan library New York

The chained library in Hereford cathedral.

Chetham's Library, Manchester

The Plantin Moretus museum in Antwerp is an old printing house, lots of old books particularly scientific publication and atlases and printing presses

Wells cathedral chained library.

The Coptic museum in Cairo has the Nag Hammadi texts, I found them very interesting!

Worcester Cathedral has a very old book but I’ve forgotten from when! There has been a cathedral on the site since the 6th century though, so it will be quite old. I believe you have to make an appointment to view.

Do check, but I believe the British library has several very old books and first editions in its free exhibition at the entrance. I remember being blown away by it. Likewise check the Bodleian.

There’s a nice tv programme on 4 on demand atm with Sandi Toksvig where she goes on a literary tour of Ireland , visiting bookshops , museums etc. Some brilliant ideas on there.

Yay! I knew I could rely on MN.

There's clearly so many amazing books in Britain and Ireland. I can do day trips to some of those as well as weekends away in Europe.

I don't want to travel outside Europe as I don't like flying, so I stick to European flights.

Dublin is a good shout - obviously Trinity College Library and Book of Kells is lovely. Marsh’s Library is equally nice, and (IME) a lot quieter.

The Bodleian Library in Oxford

Mappa Mundi, Hereford Cathedral

Anna Amalia Bibliothek in Weimar, Germany?

I came to say The British Library.

Guildhall Library in London also has a great collection of old books.

Generally, a lot of churches on the continent have their old books on display as part of the treasure of xxx exhibition.

I would also check out exhibitions for a specific subject/ time frame.... they often include books and manuscripts.

"Ordenary" books and manuscripts are quite frail and display causes more damage. They often don't make it into the exhibition room for that reason.

What is it that specifically intrests you?

And while you're in Manchester go to the library at Chetham's School of Music.

St John's College Cambridge has its books on display on Heritage Open Days. Unfortunately you have just missed them.

Lots of the ancient public schools have wonderful collections, eg. you can see books in the the Westminster, Sherborne, Winchester and Eton College library collections on a pre-booked visit, same for the library holdings of the Royal Family. Eton has open days on St Andrews Day and the Fourth of June where books are on display to the public, and I'm sure the other schools do too.

https://oldshirburnian.org.uk/rare-book-collection/

https://www.winchestercollegeheritage.org/archives-libraries/fellows-library/

https://collections.etoncollege.com/collections/college-library/

Another vote for Marsh's Library attached to St. Patrick's Cathedral Dublin, (worth a visit on its own). A lovely spot, and plenty of ancient books to drool over.

marshlibrary.ie/