Plan of St. Gall, Switzerland

Condé Nast TravelerJan 2

From a Swiss abbey to a national park in Korea, these UNESCO-approved sites are home to stunning libraries.

One of the world's most important monastic plan drawings

17 things in this story

University of Coimbra Alta and SofiaSightUNESCO World Heritage Site in Portugal
Biblioteca JoaninaMuseumBaroque library inside the University of Coimbra
Abbey of St. GallSightUNESCO World Heritage Site in Switzerland
Abbey LibraryMuseumOne of Europe's oldest continuous learning spaces
Plan of St. GallPlaceOne of the world's most important monastic plan drawings
Historic Center of PueblaNeighborhoodUNESCO World Heritage Site in Mexico
Biblioteca PalafoxianaMuseumFirst public library in the Americas
Historic Center of PragueNeighborhoodUNESCO World Heritage Site in Czech Republic
Strahov Monastery LibraryMuseumLibrary complex with two main halls
Historic Center of FlorenceNeighborhoodUNESCO World Heritage Site in Italy
Biblioteca Medicea LaurenzianaMuseumLibrary established to consolidate Medici family manuscripts
Royal Site of San Lorenzo de El EscorialSightUNESCO World Heritage Site in Spain
Library of the Monastery of El EscorialMuseumRepository for humanist learning established in the 16th century
Gayasan National ParkSightNational park in South Korea
Haeinsa Temple Janggyeong PanjeonMuseumDepositories for the Tripitaka Koreana Woodblocks
Joanina LibraryMuseum
Palafoxiana LibraryMuseum

Plan of St. Gall