Humanist library - The Bibliothèque Humaniste
The Humanist Library of Sélestat (Bas-Rhin) brings together the collections of the town's parish library. And those of the personal library of the Alsatian humanist Beatus Rhenanus (16th century), who donated them to his native town. It is housed in the town's former corn exchange, built in 1845.
Among the treasures that visitors can admire is a 7th century liturgical manuscript. The oldest book preserved in Alsace. But also a 13th century bible, with numerous illuminations. Some of them in gold. Or a school book by Beatus Rhenanus. Written more than five centuries ago, it is a rare document. Since 2011, the humanist library in Sélestat has been listed in the Unesco Memory of the World register. This testifies to the universality and value of this collection.
Place Dr Maurice Kubler
67600
Selestat
03 88 58 07 20
[email protected]
www.bibliotheque-humaniste.fr
Discover the treasures of the Renaissance in a museum in the heart of Alsace! The Humanist Library offers you a visit among unique medieval and printed manuscripts from the 16th and 17th centuries. In a building designed by the architect Rudy Ricciotti, your tour will be punctuated by modern and innovative devices at the service of books and art objects.
The interactive devices proposed throughout the visit allow everyone to enter the heart of the books and understand the richness of Rhenish humanism. Spend an unforgettable moment in this heritage facility ideally located at the crossroads of Alsace's tourist routes.
Opening hours
May - September / December: Tuesday to Sunday, 10am - 12.30pm / 1.30pm - 6pm
24 and 31 December: closes at 4pm
February - April / October - November: Tuesday to Sunday, 1.30 pm - 5.30 pm
Last admission 30 min. before closing time.
Closed on Mondays and from 1 to 31 January, 1 May, 25 and 26 December.
Public price
Adult : €7.50Kid : Free
Price with the pass
Adult : FreeKid : Free
Meisenthal's Christmas Balls : North Express Pole
From 21 November to 31 December 2026
Exposition temporaire
Festivités de Noël
This year's exhibition takes you on a train tour of the world, from the North Pole to Séletat. The collective CinéKrafté, composed by artistic duo Sarah Poulain (paper cutting) and Guillaume Leprévost (video animation) will take you aboard the North Express Pole.
So, ready to go?
Sélestat
1 place Dr Maurice Kubler
67600 Sélestat
France
1521, the oldest written mention of the Christmas tree
From 21 November to 31 December 2026
Festivités de Noël
Free
You will discover the famous book of accounts of 1521.
Presented to the Humanist Library during the end-of-year festivities, this document mentions for the first time the tradition of the Christmas tree in Seletat.
By opening this register of accounts of the City of Sélestat, whose archives are carefully preserved in the Municipal Archives, a handwritten mention is made, on page 239, of a tradition that is now affirmed far beyond the borders...
"...as well as 4 schillings to the forest guards to monitor the but from St. Thomas."
This is the oldest written record in the world to date referring to the Christmas Tree.
Thanks to the work of historians passionate about their native Alsace, his interpretation is clear: if the city of Séletat must thus protect its forest by planning such an expense, it is to be assumed that decorating a tree (not a branch) at that time of year was relatively common and was part of customs.
This is confirmed in later writings dated 1546, 1555 and 1557, equally carefully preserved in the City's archives.
This mention is naturally associated with the history of Meisenthal's glass Christmas balls, born in 1858 to replace apples on the tree, after a year of drought.
Sélestat
1 place Dr Maurice Kubler
67600 Sélestat
France
Accessibility
- Physical disability
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The entire Humanist Library is accessible to people with reduced mobility. The site is equipped with a lift. - Accepted animals
Access conditions
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From the north: from Strasbourg, motorway A35 towards Colmar for 50 km. Exit n°16 Sélestat centre - ZI Nord
From the south: from Mulhouse, A35 motorway to Colmar, then RN 83 for 22 km. Exit n°18 - Sélestat Centre
From the west: from Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines by RN 59, 22 km
From the east: from Marckolsheim/le Rhin by D 424, 14 km
The Humanist Library is located in the centre of Sélestat, close to the St-Georges church.
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There is a regular rail link to Sélestat (Strasbourg-Sélestat-Colmar-Mulhouse line). Sélestat station is served by the TGV Est, with one return trip per day. From the station, it is a 10-minute walk to the city centre to reach the museum.