Abbey library of Saint Gall

The baroque hall of the Abbey Library of St. Gallen, Switzerland, photographed in 2023. The library itself goes back to the ninth century, and the hall seen here was built between 1758 and 1762 to designs by Peter Thumb. Its curving galleries, ceiling paintings and inlaid parquet floor hold more than 170,000 volumes, and the Greek words over the door promise a healing place for the soul. Visitors pull felt slippers over their shoes before going in, so the floor survives the crowds.