1400AD-Present-Modern Era Europe Romania Museums, Art galleries, Museum pieces

Batthyaneum Library: The place where the Codex Aureus is held

Batthyaneum Library, Alba Iulia, Romania
Batthyaneum Library is known 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 has ivory covers. The manuscript was made between 778 and 820, during the time of Carol the Great.

Tourist Information

TypeBuilding, Library
Construction Year1715
TicketsAdmission to the Alba Carolina Citadel is free
Visiting HoursNot 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
LocationAlba 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.

Batthyaneum Library, Alba Iulia, Romania
Batthyaneum Library,

About the author

Catalina

I am Catalina, and my passion for travel, mysteries, legends and archaeology drives me to explore the world and uncover its hidden wonders.