A hushed reverence hangs in the air. We stand before the Universitätsbibliothek Erfurt a treasure trove of knowledge.
This isn’t just any library. It’s the heart of Erfurt University a vital part of its rich history. Its story begins long before the university’s 1993 re-establishment. In fact the library’s roots stretch back to 1392 to the very first Erfurt University. Early growth came from gifts and donations. Sadly a 1510 attack damaged a significant portion of its collection.
Revival came in 1691. Rector Georg Christoph Petri von Hartenfels took charge. He gathered 261 neglected volumes. He appointed a librarian encouraged donations and even contributed books himself. The library grew to 503 volumes by the 18th century. A generous gift from Philipp Wilhelm von Boineburg further boosted its collection.
The 18th century brought additional collections. These included the library of the disbanded Jesuit college and parts of the old city library. More additions followed in the 19th century. These came from St Peter’s monastery the Erfurt charterhouse and the Scots’ monastery. After the university closed the Royal Prussian Library inherited the collection. It was housed in the Electoral Mainz Governor’s Packhof building.
Even the Bibliotheca Amploniana found a home here. This massive collection of late medieval manuscripts has been called the largest fully preserved collection of its kind in the world. It belonged to Amplonius Rating de Berka who gifted it in 1412. The Bibliotheca Amploniana boasts 979 manuscript volumes and over 1800 incunabula and prints.
In 1908 the Royal Prussian Library’s collection became the property of Erfurt city. In 2001 the city transferred its historical manuscripts and books to the newly revived university. The Universitätsbibliothek Erfurt is a beacon of history. Its collection reflects centuries of scholarship perseverance and remarkable generosity. It stands as a testament to the enduring power of knowledge. This is a place where the past present and future of scholarship intertwine. Step inside and let the stories unfold.