Humanist Library of Sélestat
About This Museum
Tucked away in the heart of Alsace, the Humanist Library of Sélestat feels less like a museum and more like a time capsule. It preserves the incredible intellectual fervor that transformed this very town into a epicenter of Renaissance thought. You walk through its spaces and can almost hear the rustle of parchment and the quiet debates of scholars from centuries past. The atmosphere is one of hushed reverence, not for religious relics, but for the power of human knowledge itself.
Collection Highlights
The undeniable star is the personal library of Beatus Rhenanus, a humanist scholar whose collection of over 1,600 volumes was so vital it's now part of UNESCO's Memory of the World register. Alongside his precious manuscripts sits the Sélestat Latin School library, a collection that educated generations with texts ranging from Virgil to early printed books.
Visitor Information
It's right at 1 Place Dr Maurice Kubler in Sélestat—easy to find in the lovely old town. Just be sure to check their opening hours online before you go, as they can vary.
Architecture & Building
Housed in a striking former corn market hall from the 19th century, the building itself is a blend of robust, historic stonework and surprisingly modern, light-filled interventions inside that protect and showcase its ancient treasures.
Contact & Location
Address: 67600, Sélestat, Sélestat-Erstein, Bas-Rhin, Grand Est, France métropolitaine, France
Phone: +33 3 88 58 07 20
Website: Visit Website
