Bibliothèque Nationale et Universitaire, Strasbourg

Bibliothèque Nationale et Universitaire, Strasbourg

The National Academic Library (Bibliothèque Nationale et Universitaire), situated in Strasbourg on the Place de la République, formerly known as Kaiserplatz, faces the Palais du Rhin along the Rhine River.

Following the destruction of the municipal library and city archives by Prussian artillery during the Siege of Strasbourg, the National Academic Library was established by the German Empire on June 19, 1872. The responsibility of organizing its collections was entrusted to the historian and professor, Rodolphe Reuss.

Functioning as both a regional library for Reichsland Alsace-Lorraine and an academic institution, the BNU expanded rapidly. Despite generous contributions from Europe and the United States, some invaluable manuscripts like the Hortus Deliciarum were irretrievably lost.

The existing edifice, a collaborative creation by architects August Hartel and Skjold Neckelmann, was inaugurated in 1895. Following World War I, when Alsace-Lorraine was returned to France, deliberations emerged about the library's future. Ultimately, the French government opted to retain the library.

Currently, the library houses an impressive collection of around 3 million volumes, ranking as the second-largest in France. Notable items include approximately 2,300 incunabula, 6,700 manuscripts (along with an additional 29,000 from the archives of the De Turckheim family maintained by the library) and several thousand papyri.

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Bibliothèque Nationale et Universitaire on Map

Sight Name: Bibliothèque Nationale et Universitaire
Sight Location: Strasbourg, France (See walking tours in Strasbourg)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark

Walking Tours in Strasbourg, France

Create Your Own Walk in Strasbourg

Create Your Own Walk in Strasbourg

Creating your own self-guided walk in Strasbourg is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Famous Squares Walking Tour

Famous Squares Walking Tour

Justly reputed as one of the most beautiful cities in all of France, Strasbourg greets visitors with an array of picturesque squares. Among the most famous of them are:

Place Kléber – the biggest square in the heart of the city’s commercial district; a central meeting place since the 14th century.

Place Gutenberg – a definite “must-see” in the heart of medieval Strasbourg, not...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.7 Km or 1.7 Miles
Strasbourg Introduction Walking Tour

Strasbourg Introduction Walking Tour

The capital of France's Grand Est region, formerly known as Alsace, Strasbourg is often referred to as the "crossroads of Europe". Indeed, the city's name, emerged after the 5th century AD, is the German for 'town (at the crossing) of roads'. Adding truth to it today also is the European Parliament that has been seated at Strasbourg since 1949.

The vicinity of the...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.8 Km or 1.7 Miles
Strasbourg Downtown Walking Tour

Strasbourg Downtown Walking Tour

Strasbourg – the daughter of the Rhine River – is rich in history, architecture and gastronomy. This is particularly true of the downtown part of the city, the Grande Île or Große Insel in German, which means "Large Island" – a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1988.

At the centre of the island lies Place Kléber, the city's central square and main meeting...  view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.5 Km or 0.9 Miles
Historical Churches Walking Tour

Historical Churches Walking Tour

Strasbourg, which celebrated its bimillennial anniversary in 1988, is a city with a very rich heritage. Among other historical monuments found here is a wealth of ancient churches and cathedrals, representing a variety of architectural styles. Exploring Strasbourg on foot, one is inevitably drawn to visit some of these locations. Here are some of the best known places of worship in the city.

...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.0 Km or 1.9 Miles