National Széchenyi Library

The National Széchényi Library (Országos Széchényi Könyvtár, NSZL), located within the building F of Buda Castle (District I, Buda), boasts a rich history dating back to its establishment in 1802 by the Hungarian aristocrat, Count Ferenc Széchényi. 

The library is a national repository for various forms of Hungarian cultural heritage, including written, printed, audiovisual, and electronic materials – and it stores at least one copy of every book published in the country. NSZL actively cooperates with other institutions, playing a leading role in preserving and describing Hungary’s cultural and intellectual heritage. 

History 

Count Széchényi’s deep love for Hungary’s cultural heritage led him to assemble a collection of Hungarian books, generously donating them to the Hungarian people. This marked the foundation of the National Library and inspired a nationwide movement of book donations. 

Therefore, in 1803, the public library opened its doors in Pest, welcoming all to explore the nation’s literary treasures. In 1808, the Hungarian National Assembly expanded the library’s scope, creating the Hungarian National Museum to collect historical, archaeological, and natural relics of Hungary. The museum was incorporated into the library, a relationship that has persisted for over two centuries, making the library the custodian of written, printed, and objective relics from Hungary’s past.

A remarkable discovery of its recent history took place in 2014, when a Hungarian librarian found four pages of Mozart’s original score of a sonata, an autograph of great historical value. This discovery marked a significant addition to NSZL’s collection and contributed to the cultural heritage of Hungary.

Hungarian heritage

NSZL’s extensive collections include “hungarica,” which encompasses works published within Hungary, those published in Hungarian, those written by Hungarian authors, and materials with Hungarian aspects. The library aims to make its collections accessible electronically, providing easy access to researchers, educators, and users from all over.

The library is home to several significant collections, such as books, manuscripts, periodicals, posters and small prints, maps, theatre history materials, music collections, photos, and various cultural artifacts. Among these, the library holds 1,400,000 total items in its manuscript collection, featuring treasures like the original scores of Hungary’s national anthem, Himnusz, and the Hungarian song, Szózat.