Abbey Library of Saint Gall
BibliothekSG.jpg by Wiki Commons
Built in the 700’s, Saint Gall Abbey has been known since its early days for its efforts in preserving literature and culture. It is known as the finest example of a Carolingian structure still in existence. The Carolingian Renaissance began in the late 700’s, lasting into the 800’s, and was a sort of mini renaissance focused on an increased production of music, literature, and the arts.
Out of this revival of culture came the Abbey Library, which began the extensive work of collecting texts from around the world. It has grown over the centuries to become the largest and most valuable repository of medieval writings, currently containing more than 160,000 volumes. 2,100 of the books or manuscripts are handwritten, and more than 400 are over 1,000 years old. An effort has been undertaken to digitize the oldest writings, which has successfully put nearly 400 titles into digital copies.
Designed by Peter Thumb, the architecture for the library is a Rococo style. Hand carved polished wooden designs adorn the interior. One of the most fascinating elements is the series of cherubs mounted on the ends of the aisles, indicating what genre is within each section. The astronomy section depicts a cherub with a telescope in hand. Visitors are able to navigate the library by following the cherubs.
Out of this revival of culture came the Abbey Library, which began the extensive work of collecting texts from around the world. It has grown over the centuries to become the largest and most valuable repository of medieval writings, currently containing more than 160,000 volumes. 2,100 of the books or manuscripts are handwritten, and more than 400 are over 1,000 years old. An effort has been undertaken to digitize the oldest writings, which has successfully put nearly 400 titles into digital copies.
Designed by Peter Thumb, the architecture for the library is a Rococo style. Hand carved polished wooden designs adorn the interior. One of the most fascinating elements is the series of cherubs mounted on the ends of the aisles, indicating what genre is within each section. The astronomy section depicts a cherub with a telescope in hand. Visitors are able to navigate the library by following the cherubs.
