- Tourist Information
- Map
- Why is Codex Aureus important?
- The church of the monastic order of Trinitarians
- Astronomical observatory
Tourist Information
| Type | Building, Library |
| Construction Year | 1715 |
| Tickets | Admission to the Alba Carolina Citadel is free |
| Visiting Hours | Not open to the public The Batthyaneum Library can only be visited in organized groups (minimum 10 people) and with the written approval of the General Director of the National Library of Romania. Researchers will have to transmit as complete information as possible regarding the object of study. Access is made, also in this case, through a request that the General Director approves. For information and appointments please write: batthyaneum@bibnat.ro |
| Location | Alba Carolina, Alba Iulia, Romania, Europe |
Map
Why is Codex Aureus important?
Batthyaneum Library is important because it holds a part of the most famous medieval manuscript, the Evangelist of Lorsch, known as the Codex Aureus. This gospel was written in gold letters on fine sheets of parchment, painted in gold, and had ivory covers. The manuscript was made between 778 and 820, during the time of Carol the Great.
The library houses over 635,000 copies of books, of which 1,665 manuscripts, over 600 incunabula, and about 60,000 prints published in the sixteenth and nineteenth centuries, to which are added more than 10,000 documents, all written in 30 languages and dialects from ancient times to the present day.
Was the Batthyaneum Library a church?
The Batthyaneum Library was a church initially (The church of the Monastic Order of Trinitarians).
The church’s basement was intended for tombs, the crypt was divided into square or rectangular rooms.
Is the Batthyaneum Library an Astronomical observatory?
The astronomical observatory set up by Bishop Batthyani was the most modern observatory of the time operating in Transylvania.
