Treasures from the university library, from Kilian to Georg Häfner
04/28/2026On Saturday, 16 May, the Würzburg University Library will be showing manuscripts and testimonies from over 1000 years of book and religious history in two special tours. The event will be held as part of the German Catholic Day.
Since the beginning of the mission in the Main region, the Christian faith has found expression in special books and texts. They provided guidance and offered support even in difficult times. They were symbols of faith, such as the so-called "Kiliansevangeliar" from the 6th century, repeatedly revised, recast and venerated like a relic for over a millennium.
They are testimonies to the intellectual debate and the sharpening of the eye for the essentials, for attitude, responsibility and Christian community, from the early Anglo-Saxon texts of the Church Fathers in the Würzburg Cathedral Library to Franconian witnesses to the faith of the 20th century.
Two special guided tours will open the vault doors of the University Library of the University of Würzburg a crack wide: a special kind of encounter with testimonies to the long history of literary engagement with the Christian message and book art in the Diocese of Würzburg. The event is taking place as part of the 104th German Catholic Day, which will be organised in Würzburg in 2026.
The Würzburg Cathedral Library
The world-famous "Kiliansevangeliar" from the Würzburg Cathedral Library will also be on display as part of the guided tours. The library of the former Würzburg Cathedral Abbey is one of the most important manuscript ensembles in Central Europe. The unique collection of early medieval codices is particularly outstanding: of the 214 cathedral library manuscripts still preserved in Würzburg today, 94 date from the 5th to 9th centuries, including in particular the largest collection of early Anglo-Saxon or Anglo-Saxon influenced manuscripts on the continent.
The foundation stone for this unique library, which belonged to Würzburg Cathedral until secularisation in 1803, must have been laid soon after the diocese was founded in 742. Although it is difficult to trace the history of the library through the centuries, its reputation has remained unbroken - even in the 18th century, a visit to the cathedral library was still part of the programme for educational travellers on a trip to Würzburg.
Registration and travel information
Participation in the guided tours is free of charge. To register and select the desired time (1 or 4 pm), please use the registration form in the Eveeno portal. The event will be held in German.
The Central Library at Hubland is barrier-free and easily accessible by public transport. Parking is available in the underground car park.
Information on how to get there and on accessibility can be found on the University Library website.
