One of the world’s most beautiful libraries is in Budapest, and it’s turning 120 – PHOTOS

The Central Library of the Metropolitan Ervin Szabó Library is housed in the astonishing 19th-century neo-baroque Wenckheim Palace. Do we need more than that to feel awesome while sitting, reading, drinking a coffee or having a chat with a friend in a library? Here are some photos of the astonishing Ervin Szabó Library (Fővárosi Szabó Ervin Könyvtár), abbreviated as “fszek” or “fészek” (meaning nest in English).

Ervin Szabó Library: one of the most beautiful libraries in Budapest

The library is to celebrate the 120th anniversary of its foundation this year, Lelépő wrote. The portal collected ten interesting facts about the library for the birthday.

Work to create a new library for Budapest started in 1903 when the municipal council accepted its charter and foundation documents. Its gates opened in 1904 with 33 thousand volumes. The namesake, Ervin Szabó, is one of the leading figures of Hungarian sociology and was one of the institution’s first fellow associates. He supervised the library’s transition into a “public library” and made it a centre of sociology in the Kingdom of Hungary. Szabó died in 1918 of Spanish flu. He was only 41.

The Wenckheim Palace. Source: Wikipedia

Dragon Children’s Library inaugurated

In 1927, Budapest bought the Wenckheim Palace, erected in 1889 in neo-baroque style in Budapest’s Palace District. The library moved there in 1931. In WWII, the Central Library was bombed. Thankfully, only two branch libraries were destroyed.

After the losses in the world war and following the Soviet occupation of the country, the work continued, creating 16 branches and even two “tram libraries” in the capital. Now, it hosts Hungary’s greatest collection in the science of sociology.

The number of visitors grew gradually, so between 1998 and 2001, the building was renewed to serve increased demand.

One of the specialities of the library is the Dragon Children’s Library. Check out some photos below:

Some more photos of the magnificent library:

Photo: FB/FSZEK Central Library

Photo: FB/FSZEK Central Library

Read also:

• Discover the most beautiful libraries of Hungary – PHOTOS and details HERE
• The 5 most beautiful libraries in Budapest