The German Book and Script Museum in Leipzig, founded in 1884, is one of the oldest specialist museums in the world. It became a department of the East German Library in 1950. Since its merger with the German Library in 1990 the museum has become part of the German National Library. As well as priceless and sometimes unique specimens of books, writing and paper, this specialist library also houses more than 63,000 books about the museum itself. Its 500,000 exhibits include manuscripts, books from the 15th to the 19th centuries, book covers, 20th century book design and book art, book illustrations, typeface design and commercial art, typeface and paper samples, pattern books, watermarks, decorative paper, materials, tools and machinery for the production of books and paper, as well as archive material and documents about the history of book dealing. Closed on Sundays.
» www.leipzig-online.de
The old, mainly timber-framed Francke Foundation buildings in Halle attracted attention even back in the 18th century and today they are an outstanding cultural monument of European significance. The Francke Foundation Historical Library, which today houses an important original collection, was established by August Hermann Francke at the end of the 17th century. The 57,000 or so books in the collection cover all areas of knowledge but concentrate on the church and cultural history of the early modern period. The centrepiece of the building is the historical library hall with its original 18th century fittings. Closed on Mondays.
» www.francke-halle.de
The Historical Library in Rastatt's Ludwig Wilhelm Grammar School has its origins in a book collection established in 1716 by the town's former Piarist theological college. As a historical school library, the museum is one of the five most important collections of its kind in Germany. All the subject areas that used to be taught at the school are represented in the library, religion, natural sciences, German literature and classical philology. Its collection of around 30,000 books, old manuscripts and fragments, 162 incunabula, priceless early printed books from the 16th century and later exhibits is an important cultural treasure. Guided tours on request.
» www.rastatt.de
The library in Wolfenbüttel was founded by Duke Julius in 1572 and by 1666, under the stewardship of the learned book collector Duke August, it had become one of the biggest libraries in Europe containing around 135,000 works on different subjects ranging from astronomy to rhetoric and history to physics. Since 1990, it has housed the national collection of 17th century printed literature from German-speaking territories. The collection comprises over 12,000 original printed works and portrait prints. As well as literary estates and original handwritten papers, almost 12,000 priceless medieval manuscripts and about 5,000 incunabula can be seen. The most valuable book in the world – the Gospels of the Guelph Duke Henry the Lion has been one of its exhibits since 1989. Closed on Mondays.
» www.hab.de
The Gellert Museum, a listed villa set in parkland, opened to the public in 1985. It is dedicated solely to preserving the legacy of Christian Fürchtegott Gellert (1715-1769), a teacher and writer and the son of a local minister. Gellert returned the fable to literary attention and his academic work is regarded as unparalleled. The museum's holdings consist of a mainly historical library, an archive, the Gellert Collection with various mementoes and portraits and a collection of fine arts depicting fables. The museum highlights the importance of this writer, who was one of the leading exponents of the early German enlightenment and who influenced the whole of Europe. Open Sunday to Thursday. Closed on Ascension Day, 24 and 31 December. Guided tours on request.
» www.gellert-museum.de
