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.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Library_of_Trinity_College_Dublin

I tried a few months ago to look at how I could access the Radcliffe Camera, as a student. Wow - every month, limited tours, free, but not if I am, as a I am, a student from a private university. And yes the UK does have a few of these. Not many but they offer a different student experience. Mine offers a unique Masters degree in History of Art discipline. I cannot take this degree in any state funded uni. So at some point I will bite the bullet and go, and pay. That is an amazing building. I just now have to revise the architectural rhythm of the columns!

I also wanted to recommend Gladstone’s Library. Amazing building, superb historic library where you can really make yourself at home if you stay overnight or for a few days or weeks.

https://www.gladstoneslibrary.org/

@MinnieMountain I am not sure if this would be of interest, but there are places & projects you could volunteer to get up and close to old books, cataloguing or some simple cleaning under supervision. I did this many years ago.

www.monteproject.com/home/

Brilliant idea @MyLifeInBooks .

I'm adding the Austrian State Library in Vienna to my list. I saw mention of it on an exhibit in a museum in Cologne and it turns out it has a special treasures museum, as well as a beautiful library.

Chatsworth