The facade of the Humanist Library in Sélestat is decorated with a mosaic by César Winterhalter. The origins of the Sélestat Humanist Library can be traced to the parish library established in 1452 by a gift from rector Johannes von Westhuss. Collections grew steadily thanks to further bequests by former pupils of the town’s famed Latin school. One such alumnus was the humanist writer and publisher Beatus Rhenanus, who upon his death in 1547 gave his considerable collection to his native town. From its creation until 1840, the library was inside St. George’s church, where von Westhuss officiated. It was then held in the town hall until 1889, when it moved to its current location inside the former granary. The collection of Beatus Rhenanus is stored in a climate-controlled jewel box that separates the public exhibition space from a a small research library. The Sélestat granary was built between 1843 and 1845 on the location of a former customs house. Its design by Strasbourg architect…
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