As if books themselves are not beautiful enough, some humans go the extra mile to ensure that they not only exist, but also that they shine and prosper. We’re sure that most of our readers are near to or have access to a library and that even more use them. But, in some places and some instances, having a library is almost like finding Valhalla. And with the easy access to reading materials in today’s online world, does paper have a future? Well, that’s up to us. But there is a middle ground, and when we say ground, we mean it. For hundreds of years, books have been revered, and the vast number of those who couldn’t read went without, only wondering and dreaming of having a book in their lives.
Luckily, the past stays in the past and treasures, such as books remain. And there are dozens of libraries around the world that not only house these treasures, but they house them in edifices that almost beggar belief. Watch the video below and prepare to be bedazzled.
One of the most sumptuous and accessible is Christ Church Cathedral, more formally The Cathedral of the Holy Trinity (Irish: Ardeaglais Theampall Chríost), is the cathedral of the United Dioceses of Dublin and Glendalough and the cathedral of the ecclesiastical province of the United Provinces of Dublin and Cashel in the (Anglican) Church of Ireland. It is situated in Dublin, Ireland, and is the elder of the capital city’s two medieval cathedrals, the other being St Patrick’s Cathedral.
The cathedral was founded in the early 11th century under the Viking king Sitric Silkenbeard. It was rebuilt in stone in the late 12th century under the Norman potentate Strongbow, and considerably enlarged in the early 13th century, using Somerset stones and craftsmen. A partial collapse in the 16th century left it in poor shape and the building was extensively renovated and rebuilt in the late 19th century, giving it the form it has today, including the tower, flying buttresses, and distinctive covered footbridge.
We’ve been there and the cathedral itself is breathtaking, but the pièce de résistance has the be The Book of Kells. The Book of Kells (Latin: Codex Cenannensis; Irish: Leabhar Cheanannais; Dublin, Trinity College Library, MS A. I. , sometimes known as the Book of Columba) is an illuminated manuscript and Celtic Gospel book in Latin, containing the four Gospels of the New Testament together with various prefatory texts and tables. It was created in a Columban monastery in either Ireland or Scotland, and may have had contributions from various Columban institutions from each of these areas. It is believed to have been created c. 800 AD. The text of the Gospels is largely drawn from the Vulgate, although it also includes several passages drawn from the earlier versions of the Bible known as the Vetus Latina. It is regarded as a masterwork of Western calligraphy and the pinnacle of Insular illumination. The manuscript takes its name from the Abbey of Kells, County Meath, which was its home for centuries. This is worth a trip – it’s spectacular. Learn more here.
Ireland and Dublin have so many options for you. Click here to book a tour of the Book of Kells.
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Stay at the petit, hip and central Temple Bar Lane. Well set in the Dublin City Center district of Dublin, Temple Bar Lane is located a few steps from The famous Temple Bar Pub, a few blocks from Trinity College, Dublin Castle and 0.9 mi from Guinness Storehouse. This 3-star hotel offers a 24-hour front desk and free Wi-Fi. There are many options for restaurants nearby and shops close to Grafton Street and Henry Street. Click here to book.