The National and University Library (french: Bibliothèque nationale et universitaire; abbreviated BNU) is a public library in Strasbourg, France. It is located on

Place de la République The Place de la République (known as the Place du Château d'Eau until 1879) is a square in Paris, located on the border between the 3rd, 10th and 11th arrondissements. The square has an area of .Warner, p. 250 Named after the First, Second an ...

, the former ''Kaiserplatz'', and faces the ''

Palais du Rhin The Palais du Rhin ( en, Palace of the Rhine), the former ''Kaiserpalast'' (Imperial palace), is a building situated in the German (north-east) quarter of Strasbourg ( Neustadt) dominating the '' Place de la République'' (the former ''Kaiserplatz' ...

''.

History

After the destruction of the municipal library and the city's archives by Prussian artillery during the

Siege of Strasbourg The siege of Strasbourg took place during the Franco-Prussian War, and resulted in the French surrender of the fortress on 28 September 1870. After the German victory at Wörth, troops from the Grand Duchy of Baden under Prussian General Aug ...

, the German Empire founded the BNU on 19 June 1872. The task of arranging its collections was given to historian and professor, Rodolphe Reuss. It became the regional library for the ''Reichsland'' Alsace-Lorraine, as, according to German tradition, every region should have at least one library. It was also an Academic library. The collections grew quickly, thanks principally to donations from all across Europe and the United States. But, even in spite of these generous donations, many priceless manuscripts, such as the

Hortus Deliciarum __NOTOC__ The ''Hortus deliciarum'' (Latin for ''Garden of Delights'') was a medieval manuscript compiled by Herrad of Landsberg at the Hohenburg Abbey in Alsace, better known today as Mont Sainte-Odile. Description The ''Hortus deliciarum'' ...

had been destroyed and could never be replaced. The present-day building, which is a work of architects August Hartel and

Skjold Neckelmann Skjold Neckelmann (born November 24, 1854 - May 13, 1903) was a Danish-German architect, best known for designing four Strasbourg buildings that are landmarks of the Neustadt district - the National and University Library, the National Theatr ...

, was opened in 1895. After the territory of Alsace-Lorraine had been reverted to France following

World War I World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

, the question arose as to whether or not this library should be renovated and reopened. After some hesitation, the French government decided to keep the library. The library now holds about 3,000,000 volumes, which is the second largest collection in France. The collection contains, amongst other things, ca. 2,300 incunabula, 6,700

manuscript A manuscript (abbreviated MS for singular and MSS for plural) was, traditionally, any document written by hand – or, once practical typewriters became available, typewritten – as opposed to mechanically printed or reproduced in ...

s (plus 29,000 others from the archives – kept by the library – of the De Turckheim family, and several other thousands from the Alsatian

Franciscan , image = FrancescoCoA PioM.svg , image_size = 200px , caption = A cross, Christ's arm and Saint Francis's arm, a universal symbol of the Franciscans , abbreviation = OFM , predecessor = , ...

order) and 5,200 papyri.Collections papyrologiques at the BNU website

References

External links

Official Website
{{DEFAULTSORT:NATIONAL UNIVERSITY LIBRARY Library buildings completed in 1895 Libraries in France University of Strasbourg Organizations based in Strasbourg Tourist attractions in Strasbourg Monuments historiques of Strasbourg 1895 establishments in France Libraries established in 1872 19th-century architecture in France