These 7 libraries look like they are from a fairy tale.

Libraries are among the best possible public investments, promoting knowledge, education, culture, and social engagement. In addition, they serve as democratic spaces that empower individuals, foster learning, and contribute to the overall well-being of communities.

In Haruki Murakami’s surreal masterpiece“Kafka on the Shore”, the 15-year-old protagonist who lives in a library describes the experience of opening a book as follows: “When I open them, most of the books have the scent of a previous era wafting out from between the pages—a special smell of knowledge and feelings that have quietly rested between the covers for ages. I breathe it in and leaf through a few pages before putting each book back on its shelf.”

For many, like the 15-year-old fictional Kafka, libraries are also attractive places where magic happens, where new worlds open up through the pages of books, and where the line between reality and surrealism can blur.

The following seven libraries, through the classic elements of their design, offer a fairytale-like ambiance that combines architectural splendor, historical significance, and a sense of wonder, transporting visitors into a magical world of knowledge and imagination.

1. Admont Abbey Library – Admont, Austria

This library is located in the Benedictine Abbey of Admont in Austria and is the largest monastic library in the world, where visitors might feel like they are in“Beauty and the Beast”.

Admont Abbey features magnificent Baroque architecture with artistic ceiling frescoes, large marble columns, and an extensive collection of books.

2. Wiblingen Abbey Library – Ulm, Germany

This elaborately designed Bavarian library in the former Benedictine Abbey of Wiblingen is considered one of the most beautiful examples of Rococo architecture.

Elaborate stucco decorations, an impressive ceiling fresco, and rows of antique books create an atmosphere like a Disney ballroom.

3. Trinity College Library – Dublin, Ireland

The Trinity College Library in the Irish capital is a breathtaking place that exudes a dark academic atmosphere.

This impressive 18th-century building houses more than 200,000 books, kept in beautiful dark wood bookshelves along the walls, as well as marble busts of important scholars and writers, creating an atmosphere of intellectual reverence.

4. Strahov Monastery Library – Prague, Czech Republic

In the Strahov Monastery, which dates back to the 12th century, there are two magnificent halls: the Theological Hall and the Philosophical Hall.

The halls are adorned with ceiling frescoes, antique globes, and bookcases full of historical volumes—as if a “mad scientist” might be just around the corner.

5. Royal Portuguese Reading Room – Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Even though it is located in the tropical climate of South America, it’s hard not to think of Harry Potter in the Royal Portuguese Reading Room.

This 19th-century library is a stunning example of Portuguese Neo-Manueline architecture, inspired by the Gothic Manueline style that was widespread in Portugal during the Age of Discovery. The building’s facade is adorned with intricate carvings, decorative windows, and a grand entrance portal.

6. Library of El Escorial – Madrid, Spain

Located in the royal residence of San Lorenzo de El Escorial, this Renaissance library was built to house not only religious texts but also scientific books—a new idea in Europe at the time.

It is part of a larger complex that also includes a monastery, a royal palace, and a basilica. The library houses an impressive collection of over 40,000 books, including rare manuscripts.

7. Rijksmuseum Library – Amsterdam, Netherlands

This 19th-century Neo-Renaissance library is located within the Rijksmuseum, one of the most famous art museums in the world.

The interior of the library is adorned with beautiful woodwork, chandeliers, and large windows overlooking the museum gardens.