Bibliothèque Humaniste

Alsace


Founded in 1452, this library’s stellar collection features a 7th-century book of Merovingian liturgy, a copy of Cosmographiae Introductio (printed in 1507), in which the New World is referred to as ‘America’ for the first time, and the first written mention of the Christmas tree (1521). Following extensive restoration, the library reopened in all its glory in summer 2018.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Alsace attractions

1. Église St-Georges

0.08 MILES

One of Alsace’s most striking churches, this Gothic giant, built from weighty red sandstone and sporting a colourful mosaic-tile roof, is illuminated by…

2. Vieux Sélestat

0.22 MILES

Church spires rise gracefully above the red rooftops of the old town, which hugs the left bank of the River Ill. Some of the finest examples of half…

3. Illwald

2.41 MILES

On the southeastern fringes of Sélestat, this nature reserve is a mix of deciduous forest and wetlands. It attracts plenty of wildlife, including…

4. Montagne des Singes

3.68 MILES

Kids love to feed popcorn (special monkey popcorn, of course) to the free-roaming Barbary macaques and their cheeky infants at this 2.4-hectare woodland…

5. Ramparts

4.42 MILES

A gentle stroll takes in the 14th-century, pink-granite ramparts, originally pierced by four gates, three still holding aloft watchtowers and bearing…

6. Chapelle St-Sébastien

4.89 MILES

The hillside Chapelle St-Sébastien is known for its Romanesque tower and Gothic choir.

7. Château du Haut Kœnigsbourg

5.17 MILES

On its fairy-tale perch above vineyards and hills, the turreted red-sandstone Château du Haut Kœnigsbourg is worth a detour for the wraparound panorama…

8. Medieval Centre

5.73 MILES

A stroll through the cobbled streets of the well-preserved medieval centre takes in the early Gothic church; the wall-mounted sundial, dating from 1711;…