Discover the 7 oldest libraries in the world

Not only preserving the treasure trove of human knowledge, the 7 oldest libraries in the world below are also unique and magnificent architectural and artistic masterpieces for book lovers to explore.

Thien Nhat Cac : Thien Nhat Cac was founded in the Ming Dynasty in 1561 in Zhejiang, China, with an area of up to 26,000 m2, by Pham Kham, a court official who was passionate about rare ancient books. He collected more than 70,000 volumes of ancient books from local chronicles, political books, court inspection records to anthologies of poems and essays. Initially, Pham Kham's library was named Dong Minh Thao Duong. After he resigned and returned home, his book collection grew larger and larger, Pham Kham built a new library and named it Tang Thu Cac. Photo: Unwtonews.

Thien Nhat Cac was robbed twice. The first time was by the British during the First Opium War in 1831, and the second time was by a notorious book thief, Tiet Ke Vi, in 1914, who stole nearly 1,000 books. Pham Kham's descendants continued his legacy, taking care of his library. They even disowned family members who sold any of the library's books. Today, Thien Nhat Cac only holds more than 300,000 ancient books, including about 80,000 rare books on local geography and imperial examinations. Photo: Sinology.

Malatestiana Library : Also known as the Malatesta Novello Library, this is known as the oldest public library in Europe. The Malatestiana Library is located in the city of Cesena, northern Italy, and was founded in 1452. It is also the first public library in Europe, run by the people instead of being owned by any temple or noble family. In addition, this library is also the oldest public library still in operation in the world . Photo: AtlasObscura.

The Malatestiana Library is an architectural marvel, a testament to the height of the early Italian Renaissance with 44 Venetian windows, and a great place to read. The library holds more than 400,000 books, including 343 original ancient volumes still chained to the original reading chairs where they have been for the past five centuries. Photo: Galinfo.

Hereford Cathedral Library : The Hereford Cathedral Library in England was founded in 1611 and is the only surviving library with all its chains, bars and locks still intact. The library houses mainly old manuscripts, some of which are in ancient handwriting, and contain beautiful gold and colour illustrations. Most of the books in the Hereford Cathedral Library date back to the 12th century. Photo: LoveReadingUK.

During the English Civil War, Hereford Cathedral Library was fortunately unharmed, despite the heavy damage caused by the war across the country. Instead, the library was supplemented with books from a Jesuit college in 1678, adding to its already rare collection. In addition to the manuscripts, it also houses the Hereford Mappa Mundi, the world’s largest medieval map. Photo: Mainlymuseum.

St. Catherine's Monastery : Founded in 565, St. Catherine's Monastery on Egypt's Sinai Peninsula is the world's oldest, most continuously operating library and monastery. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the monastery was built around the burning bush where Moses is said to have seen God. St. Catherine's Monastery's greatest asset is its collection of handwritten biblical manuscripts, second only to the Vatican Library in Rome. Photo: Britannica.

Khizanat al Qarawiyyin Library: Khizanat al Qarawiyyin in Fez, Morocco, was founded in 859 and is the oldest university still in operation. The library was founded by a Muslim woman named Fatima al-Fihri, whose diploma still hangs proudly on the wall of the university library to this day. The library's female-led legacy continues to be carried on by Aziza Chaouni, the architect who oversaw the library's 2012 renovation. Photo: CNtraveler.

Saraswathi Mahal Library : Founded in the 16th century, the Saraswathi Mahal Library in Thanjavur, India, is one of the oldest functioning libraries in Asia. It was originally a royal library established by the Nayak kings of Thanjavur until 1918, when it was opened to the public. The library also houses one of the world’s rarest collections of palm-leaf manuscripts written in Tamil. Photo: Herzindagi.

Trinity College Library : Last but certainly not least, the Trinity College Library was founded in Dublin, Ireland, in 1592, the same year the college was founded. The library itself is a stunning sight, with the Long Room housing 200,000 of the library’s oldest books in oak bookcases. It is home to the Book of Kells, one of the world’s most famous and beautiful illustrated manuscripts. Photo: YellowKorner.

Source: https://baohatinh.vn/kham-pha-7-thu-vien-co-nhat-the-gioi-post292053.html