From Rio de Janeiro to Tokyo, these spaces dazzle visitors with fantastic design...

It is impossible to list the most beautiful libraries in the world, based only on their purpose: unlimited access to the range of books for anyone, anywhere. Cultural resource and information is only one side of the cultural approach, and the attraction to libraries would hardly be so natural if it were not for the aesthetic aspect.

From the Americas to Europe, Asia and Africa, visually beautiful libraries exist on every continent. Some are hundreds of years old, with fascinating frescoes and unique architecture. Others are modern, with touches of futuristic style.

Whatever their style, reading in such rarefied spaces thanks to architecture and style makes these 13 most beautiful libraries.

Library of Strahov Monastery (Prague)

Old Library of Trinity College (Dublin, Ireland)

Royal Portuguese Cabinet of Reading (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil)

Cite de l'Architecture et du Patrimoine (Paris, France)

Library of the Monastery of San Lorenzo de El Escorial (Madrid, Spain)

The Hachioji Library at Tama Art University (Tokyo, Japan)

Stephen A. Schwarzman Building (New York)

George Peabody Library in Baltimore (Maryland, United States)

Biblioteca Vasconcelos (Mexico)

Wiblingen Monastery Library (Ulm, Germany)

Raza Library (Rampur, India)

Library of the Monastery of St. Gal (Switzerland)

Stuttgart City Library (Germany)