Austrian National Library
Austria's largest library began as a Habsburg court collection — the oldest book inside dates to 1368 and was copied entirely in gold.
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Founded as the Imperial Court Library and renamed in 1920 after the Habsburg Monarchy collapsed, this complex holds over 12 million items across four museums and multiple archives. Collections span two buildings: the Neue Burg Wing of the Hofburg and the Baroque Palais Mollard-Clary, where overflow collections moved in 2005.
What to look for
- The 1368 golden Holy Gospels — the oldest item in the collection, with all four Gospels transcribed in gold letters and illustrated in the Burgundian book-art style
- Four heraldic coats of arms on that same manuscript representing Austria, Tirol, Styria, and Carinthia — the lands Archduke Albert III ruled at the time it was made
- The Baroque rooms of Palais Mollard-Clary, a second site housing relocated collections since 2005
Inside the Hofburg's Neue Burg Wing at the center of Vienna — easy to fold into a broader Hofburg visit without backtracking.
Austrian National Library is one of 39 sights worth the detour in Vienna, all bundled offline in Voyage GO — download the Vienna pack and it sits on your map with no signal, filling your travel passport the moment you walk past.
More to see in Vienna
- Schönbrunn PalaceHabsburg emperors were born here, ruled from here, and died here — 1,441 rooms of Baroque ambition spanning 300 years.
- St. Stephen's CathedralA cathedral consecrated in 1147 as crusaders prepared to march — and built on top of a Roman burial ground that nobody knew was there until 2000.
- BelvederePrince Eugene built this summer palace on Ottoman campaign winnings — it is now three art museums inside a World Heritage Baroque garden.
- Hofburg PalaceSeven centuries of Austrian rulers worked from this address — the current president still does.
- Vienna State OperaThe first major building on Vienna's Ring Road, and the house where Vienna Philharmonic musicians earn their seats.
- Ernst-Happel-StadionBuilt for workers' sport in 1931, this 50,865-seat bowl also served as a transit prison for over 1,000 Jewish deportees in 1939.