The State Hall and the museums of the Austrian National Library

The Austrian National Library is not only the largest library in the country, but also offers you permanent presentations and diverse special exhibitions in the State Hall and the museums – the Literature, Papyrus, Globe and Esperanto Museum.

The State Hall and four museums in the heart of Vienna

» State Hall

Immerse yourself in Baroque splendour: the State Hall (located directly at Josefsplatz) forms the heart of the Austrian National Library. It is one of the most beautiful library halls in the world. Emperor Charles VI (1685/1711-1740) ordered the construction of this jewel of profane Baroque architecture for his Court Library.

» Literature Museum

The Literature Museum is the first museum that conveys the diversity and polyphony of Austrian literature from the end of the 18th century until the present day. 

» Globe Museum

Over 250 globes and globe-related instruments such as armillary sphere, planetaria and telluria await you in the Globe Museum. The adjacent study collection has over 450 further globes.

» Papyrus Museum

There are around 300 items for you to discover in the Papyrus Museum: from the oldest papyri in the collection from the middle of the second millennium B.C. to the most recent papers from the Islamic time in the 13th century A.D. 

» Esperanto Museum

The Esperanto Museum of the Austrian National Library provides you, through a modern museum concept covering 80 m2, the eventful history of Esperanto and also focuses generally on the relationship between humans and language.