8The Admont Abbey Library, Admont, Austria

Nestled in the Austrian Alps, the Admont Abbey Library is the largest monastic library in the world. Established in 1776, the library is renowned for its stunning Baroque architecture. The grand hall, adorned with gold and white, features ceiling frescoes by Bartolomeo Altomonte depicting the stages of human knowledge. Its collection includes ancient manuscripts, incunabula, and rare prints, all housed within a visually breathtaking setting.