The Royal Library is Sweden’s national library and it opened in 1661. Besides being just that, a library, the RL is tasked with preserving and storing everything that is published in Sweden, whether it’s a school book, fashion magazine, a DVD movie, or a news bulletin broadcast on the radio. Its vast collection includes well over 18 million items, of which the oldest are over a thousand years old. The RL has been housed in its current location, in the middle of Humlegården park, since 1877.
We seldom visit Stockholm, but now so many years had passed, that we felt it necessary to go in order to keep up with the city’s changes. And, of course the National Library was on our list.
In fact I had never been to the National Library, so I was very excited to finally go. And even if I have been to more beautiful libraries, this one was serene looking and strict in its design.
The reading hall was spacious and bright, just the way I love reading halls to be, and the scientists’ reading hall had a lower ceiling and more comfortable chairs (of course). They were both inviting.
Walking down to the basement we were in for a surprise …none of us had ever heard of this…As we walked down the last stairs, we were even more excited. Codex Gigas, or the Devil’s Bible, was waiting for us.
Not great that it was taken in a war, but those were the days when such things happened in wars. (In fact, they still seem to do so…) If there are grades in Hell, maybe it was better to take it than to burn it. Anyway, we greatly enjoyed seeing this gigantic Bible and reading about it. It is an impressive book where each page measures 89cmx49cm, and the total amount of parchment leaves are 310. It weighs almost 75 kilos.
Interesting too is that this Bible contains not only the Holy Bible, but also other popular works, like medical works and an Encyclopedia. They were all written in Latin. Fascinating. Click the link on Codex Gigas above if you want to read more about it.
Leya 
Wow! The library is fascinating, both it’s architecture and books. 😊
I am glad you found it interesting too! Thank you.
I was all hooked to the massive architecture of this amazing library until you took me to Codas Gigas 🙂
Impressive book! Thank you.
Fascinating, especially the Codex Gigas 🙂 The library looks very different from our own rather modern British Library in London but shares an ethos and the knowledge to preserve such ancient texts.
Yes, fascinating it was. A bit shocking that we did not learn about this in school?
Yes but there was so much we didn’t learn there!
True – but kings and wars…and this was an old loot from Prague..
How beautiful! In the recent years, I have been to libraries but only to take pictures and not for reading 🙂. The Devil’s Bible is very impressive – a 75 kg book, wow! Definitely one can’t take it for a bit of night time reading before falling asleep 😉.
I smiled a bit at going there to take pictures – but in fact that is so true for me too. And the Devil’s Bible would be a bit too much for me too.
Old civic and national libraries are often marvellous places to explore. And the best of it is they’re not usually on the tourist trail, so they preserve their quiet atmosphere. This looks a great example.
You seem to have explained it on the spot!
You pointed the way!
A beautiful library and a gorgeous book. I’ve never heard of the Devil’s Bible before. 🙂
Neither had any of us. Strange, I think we should have learned about it in school.
*smile* May I say it seems to reflect the people . . . serious and down-to-earth . . .
Haha, so true…
It is beautiful 🙂
Thank you, Brian, good I finally got there.
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This is a beautiful library Ann-Christine. I like its architecture as well as its contents. Beautiful images.
Thank you, Anne. Libraries are peaceful places to go, aren’t they? If they are beautiful too – even better.
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