Munich - Bavarian State Library Bayerische Staatsbibliothek

The Bavarian State Library in Munich is Germany's largest library with some 5.1 million volumes and more than 32,000 periodicals. The library has several sections of particular note: the science, manuscript and incunabula departments, the music collection, the oriental and Far Eastern department, the comprehensive East European collection and, last but by no means least, the large map collection of more than 800 atlases and 250,000 maps.

The long range of buildings, with seven wings laid out around two courtyards, was built by Friedrich von Gärtner in 1834-39 within the plan for the development of Ludwigstrasse. The style is modeled on that of the Early Renaissance palaces of Italy. The strong emphasis on the horizontal articulation of the facade contributes to the continuity and monumental effect of the street.

On the steps leading up to the entrance are statues of Thucydides, Homer, Aristotle and Hippocrates, all by Ludwig Schwanthaler.