Bavarian State Library
The Bavarian State Library isn’t hard to miss. Located on Ludwigstrasse between Odeonsplatz and the Victory Arch, the massive building, which dates from 1832, is 152m-long, 78m-deep, 24m-high. Here, an outside staircase leads to a typically German door—heavy, solid, secure in its frame. Until recently, this portal was locked to working people, who were unable to make it to the library before its 5 pm closing time. Thankfully, the door reopened to “nine to fivers” in June. At present, the library’s reading rooms are open Monday through Friday from 9 am to 9 pm and Saturdays and Sundays from 10 am to 5 pm. For more information, visit www.bsb-muenchen.de. Highlights of an evening at the BSL may include a visit to the library’s newspaper and magazine reading room. To enter, you will need a passport or library card (DM 60 for life). Here you will find 400 seats and approximately 40,000 newspapers and magazines—many of which are in English. The Bavarian State Library boasts the second largest collection of magazines and newspapers in Europe, second only to that of the British Museum.