Raczyński Library

The Raczyński Library is the largest library in Greater Poland. Its traditions date back to the 1820s. Its representative, classicist building is one of the most recognizable monuments of Poznań. Besides the library, there are also exhibition halls.

The founder of the Library had been count Edward Raczyński. In the years 1822-1828 French architects had designed the building modeled on the Louvre. The classicist building has a monumental facade with 24 Corinthian columns, a loggia, and a triangular tympanum placed on a high bossage plinth. In front of the building stands a fountain, which is also a monument of the Greek goddess of health, Hygieia. It was one of the wells of the former municipal water supply network funded by Raczyński.

The beginning of the library were Raczyński's collections. He encouraged other benefactors for the donation of books. Unfortunately, a large part of this collection has burned during World War II. After the war, collections started to be gathered again. They have grown so much that in 2014 a modern wing was added to the historic building for the purpose of storing and making the book collection available.