Burgerbibliothek of Berne: treasure trove and scientific archive

The illustrated late mediæval historical chronicle by Diebold Schilling, the estates of Albrecht von Haller, the writer Jeremias Gotthelf and the author of children’s books Ernst Kreidolf alone would make the Burgher’s Library a unique treasure trove of Berne history and culture. Then there are some 30,000 pictorial documents about Berne, together with private bequests and family archives. To say nothing of many other internationally important treasures – foremost among them the collection of manuscripts of the French diplomat Jacques Bongars donated to the Republic of Berne in 1632. This encloses today about 1,000 very precious codices, including some dating back to late antiquity.

The Burgerbibliothek of Berne run by the Community of Burghers of Berne was founded as recently as 1951, but the origins of this public scientific institution can be traced back to the reformation.