The best museums of Africa, Europe, and America keep strikingly big precious stones under lock and key. But only in the capital of Denmark, Copenhagen, on the shore of a picturesque embankment, you can see a “diamond” the size of an entire building. This building did not get its name by chance: this modern oddly shaped building painted in deep black really looks like a “black diamond”. And the heart of the “diamond” preserves another equally valuable treasure, the Royal Library of Denmark.

One of the largest libraries in the world was founded by the Danish King Frederick III in the middle of the 17th century. At that time, the collection of rare books was only available to members of the royal dynasty. The library became public at the end of the 18th century and found its permanent home in this unique building in 1999.

The magnificent monument of modern architecture consists of black granite stone and durable glass. Despite its unusual appearance, it easily fits into the architectural appearance of the historic center of Copenhagen and is one of the city’s favorite attractions.

The archives of the Royal Library of Denmark contain almost all works published in Danish since the 15th century. Ancient medieval manuscripts, diaries of outstanding people, an impressive collection of oriental literature, and rare foreign publications can surprise not only amateurs but also connoisseurs of history and Scandinavian literature.

Each book, newspaper, or magazine in the Royal Library deserves the honorary status of a valuable museum exhibit. But there are also such treasures as the legendary Gutenberg Bible, the personal correspondence of the great storyteller Hans Christian Andersen, the works of the Danish philosopher Soren Kierkegaard and the Swedish naturalist Carl Linnaeus.

Moreover, the library houses a splendid collection of ancient photographs and maps, as well as published notes by medieval and contemporary composers.