The Tianjin Binhai Library is the top contender for the most beautiful libraries in the world. Compared to many other famous libraries, the Tianjin Binhai Library is still pretty new. And hence, anyone who likes a more contemporary library will certainly fall in love with the Tianjin Binhai Library's modern design!

How did everything begin? According to reports, the Tianjin Binhai Library opened in 2017 in the cultural hub of the Binhai area in Tianjin (China), a coastal city south of Beijing. Until today, the most striking feature of this library is the massive circular amphitheater in its center, which is ringed by rows of bookcases. These bookcases, aside from their primary function of book housing, can also serve as almost anything you want, from stairs to seats!

The shelves' curves also extend along two glass walls that connect the inside of the library to an outside park. The distinctive angles and curves of this library, according to the press release, are intended to encourage a variety of activities, including wandering, reading, and "discussing."

Ratings: 4.4 stars (from 31 reviews)

Address: Tianjin, Binhai, China

Website: https://www.bhwhzx.cn/

The Temple of Haeinsa is another beautiful library that deserves a spot on our list. This temple is not only famous among Koreans, but also among other Asian citizens as well! Aside from its main function as an abundant source of reading materials, the Temple of Haeinsa is also admired due to its stunning and distinctive layout.

The Temple of Haeinsa resides on Mount Gaya from Haeinsa (South Korea). This library was labeled "Unesco World Heritage '' because it contains the Tripitaka Koreana, which is a full set of Buddhist scriptures. In its almost 52 million letters and 6,568 volumes, these texts, which were engraved on more than 81000 woodblock prints in the 13th century, are known to be absolutely faultless. At first, people only built the Temple of Haeinsa in the 15th century to store these beautiful woodblocks, but as time developed, it turned into the famous library we all know today.

The structures of the library/temple demonstrate "astonishing creation expertise and usage of conservation procedures employed to preserve these percussion woodblocks," as cited in UNESCO documents.

Ratings: 4.6 stars (from 3054 reviews)

Address: Hapcheon-gun, Gyeongsangnam-do, Korea

Website: http://www.haeinsa.or.kr/

The year 1140 marks the founding of this Strahov Monastery library. War after war, it was repeatedly destroyed and rebuilt over the years. Despite the fact that many of their most valuable volumes were stolen, each time they rebuilt their libraries, they strived to make the library even more impressive and beautiful than it ever was before, creating an area of significance and conservation for the graves of the heroes built within.

Visitors may tour the three sections of the Strahov Monastery library: The Grand Philosophy Hall, the Baroque Theology Hall, and the Curiosity Cabinets. However, before proceeding to the observation deck for the Philosopher's Hall, we suggest you spend some time perusing the timeworn books displayed in glass cases in the foyer.

The Strahov codex is the most significant, elegant, rare, and ancient book in this collection, which was backed with red velvet and embellished with four Romanesque enamel sculptures. Furthermore, a sculpture of Jesus on the Cross, Our Lady, and St. John - as well as four silver Baroque medallions of the evangelists - were incorporated to make one of the most beautiful book covers we have ever seen!

Ratings: 4.2 stars (from 307 reviews)

Address: Praha 1-Hradčany, Czechia

Website: https://www.strahovskyklaster.cz/strahovska-knihovna

St.Mang's Abbey is one of the most beautiful libraries in the world. It is a famous library from Fussen, Germany, and is admired by lots of people around the world due to its stunning interior design. Whether you are a bookworm or not, just its design alone and the sheer capacity of the library is enough to justify a visit - despite the fact that few of the original library's books exist nowadays.

It would be important to mention some tidbits about its history! Once a monastery, St. Mang's Abbey dates back to the 9th century. The ornately painted circular chamber with beautiful frescos is still lined with modern books and offers a glimpse of the monks' eating area back in history. In the 1750s, it was renovated into a Baroque chapel, after the Counter-Reformation revolution caused many Catholic churches in Europe to convert to Protestantism.

Following the Napoleonic wars, the lords of Oettingen-Wallerstein assumed possession of the monastery and confiscated the library's original books and manuscripts in the early 1800s. These volumes and papers are presently kept at Augsburg University for any interested scholar or student to study!

Ratings: 4.5 stars (from 609 reviews)

Address: 87629 Fussen, Germany

Website: https://stadt-fuessen.org/

The Malatesta Library in Cesena, Italy, existed before the introduction of printing. It was constructed in the 14th century, making it one of the world's oldest preserved public libraries. The Malatesta Library is another gorgeously-designed library that we believe tourists should not overlook. According to many people who have the chance to see this beautiful library in person, the interior of the Malatesta Library is remarkable! How so?

First of all, it includes 58 pew-like benches. On these benches are the library's valued collection of 342 hand-printed codices; all of them are tied to the benches with the ancient iron chains. Even better, the interior layout has a geometric pattern characteristic that would fascinate anyone at first glance. It will remind you of the earlier Italian Renaissance.

There are about 400,000 books, objects, and items displayed in this library, including 287 incunabula (pre-1501 pamphlets) and 3,200 16th-century copies. The managers of this library even retain the private collection of Pope Pius VII, which interests many history lovers and researchers!

Ratings: 4.8 stars (from 250 reviews)

Address: Piazza Maurizio Bufalini, Cesena, Italy

Website: http://www.comune.cesena.fc.it/malatestiana