The castle of Rájec nad Svitavou is renowned not only for its elegant 18th-century architecture but also for its library. Founded by Prince Karl Josef I. Salm-Reifferscheidt (1750–1838), the extensive library, housed on the ground floor, contains over 59,000 volumes, making it the second-largest aristocratic library in Moravia. It includes rare manuscripts, incunabula, and early prints, along with works on natural sciences, mathematics, alchemy, medicine, and Freemasonry—reflecting the Enlightenment interests of its founder. Prince Hugo Salm later expanded the collection by acquiring entire libraries of prominent scholars, enriching its encyclopedic scope. The majority of manuscripts in the Rájec collection date from the 18th and 19th centuries, with a few from the 17th century, and only two earlier examples—from the 14th/15th century and the late 16th century.
Repository: Rájec nad Svitavou Chateau Library
See manuscripts