Manuscripts Collection
Manuscripts Collection
In the Manuscripts Collection, the National Library holds fully preserved medieval manuscripts (dating from the 7th century to 1638), partially preserved medieval manuscripts, and medieval manuscripts that were written to accompany printed books. There are also about some 600 manuscript call numbers from the second half of the 17th to the late 20th centuries. The documents in the collection may only be viewed in the Rare Books Reading Room, upon written request.
Documents in the spotlight
Our staff members have written thematic studies on various documents from our collections.
Documents in the spotlight
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A Journey of a Thousand Years
The Giant Bible of Saint MaximinIt is very rare for a manuscript to return to its ʽbirth-placeʼ, as it were, nearly a millennium after its confection; and it is even rarer that its whereabouts over such a long period of time can be traced almost year by year.
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The Echternach scriptorium
The Giant Bible of Saint Maximin represents a high point in the scriptorial culture of the Echternach school, whose influence extended far beyond the cloister walls.
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Les armoiries perdues de Charles Quint
Quand les ornements extérieurs deviennent témoins de l’époqueAu fil du temps, les blasons ont été enrichis de plusieurs ornements extérieurs, tels que des couronnes, des devises, des cris de guerre ou des ordres, qui fournissent des indices précieux sur le contexte historique dans lequel ils ont été utilisés.
News
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The National Library launches a crowdfunding campaign
Help the BnL save a thousand-year-old medieval manuscript for future generations.
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BnL publishes manuscript transcribed with AI technology for the first time
While the BnL generally carries out text recognition for printed materials such as journals and books, this is far more complex for handwritten works and is therefore not common practice.
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Visit the exhibition in virtual reality!
We’ve taken a 3D scan of the space, allowing you to explore the documents and objects on display in an immersive way, without having to leave your home.
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