France National Academic Library, Strasbourg

After the destruction of the city library and the city archives by Prussian artillery during the siege of Strasbourg, the German Reich founded the BNU on June 19, 1872. The task of organizing the collections was entrusted to the historian and professor Rodolphe Reuss.
It became the regional library for the Alsace-Lorraine region, as according to German tradition, every region should have at least one library. It was also a scientific library.
The collections grew rapidly, mainly thanks to donations from all over Europe and the United States. Despite these generous donations, however, many priceless manuscripts, such as the Hortus Deliciarum, were destroyed and could never be replaced.
The current building, the work of architects August Hartel and Skjold Neckelmann, was opened in 1895.
After the Alsace-Lorraine region was returned to France after the First World War, the question arose as to whether or not this library should be renovated and reopened. After some hesitation, the French government decided to preserve the library.
Today, the library contains around 3,000,000 volumes, making it the second largest collection in France. The collection includes around 2,300 incunabula, 6,700 manuscripts (plus 29,000 more from the archives of the De Turckheim family, which are kept by the library, and several thousand from the Alsatian Franciscan order) and 5,200 papyri.

Access to the stairs and thus to the interior of the library is secured by a turnstile. I politely asked reception if I could take photos of the stairs. I was then allowed to do so.
Photography is only possible without a tripod.

Adresse: 6 Pl. de la République, 67000 Strasbourg, Frankreich.
The University Library is also easy to reach on foot from downtown Strasbourg.