Biblioteca Palafoxiana image

Biblioteca Palafoxiana

Tourist attraction Museum

Elegant public library founded in the 17th century & housing thousands of rare books. People often mention library, books, visit, nice, pesos,


Address

Av 5 Ote 5, Centro histórico de Puebla, 72000 Heroica Puebla de Zaragoza, Pue., Mexico

Website

museospuebla.puebla.gob.mx

Contact

+52 222 232 1227

Rating on Google Maps

4.70 (3.5K reviews)

Open on Google Maps

Working Hours

  • Saturday: 10 AM to 6 PM
  • Sunday: 10 AM to 6 PM
  • Monday: Closed
  • Tuesday: 10 AM to 5 PM
  • Wednesday: 10 AM to 5 PM
  • Thursday: 10 AM to 5 PM
  • Friday: 10 AM to 6 PM

Featured Reviews


Frequently mentioned in reviews: library (23) books (13) visit (11) nice (8) pesos (6)
Reviews are sorted by relevance, prioritizing the most helpful and insightful feedback at the top for easier reference.
  • 5/5 Oksana Z. 2 years ago on Google • 21 reviews
    The second public library in the world! Almost 400 years old. Crazy) Cost 40 pesos. In this building Casa Culture has some cultural activities every Saturday. We were in symphonic orchestra of Puebla. It was very nice music. Thanks a lot!
    3 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Andrea G. 1 year ago on Google • 148 reviews
    The library is open Tuesday to Thursday from 10 am to 5 pm/Friday to Sunday from 10 am to 6 pm, the cost is $42 pesos, $21 pesos for children under 12 years old, students, teachers and INAPAM with ID and people with disabilities, Sunday and Tuesday is free admission. Palafox y Mendoza donated his personal library, consisting of five thousand volumes. In 1981, it was named a Historic Monument of Mexico for its beautifully decorated precinct, an emblem of the novo-Hispanic baroque style; and in 2005, it was included by UNESCO as part of the Memory of the World program for its bibliographic collection of antique books. Today, the Palafoxiana Library is a museum of books and continues its work as a universal library. But before they didn't pay for the library at all, so that was the part that I didn't like that now they pay to enter.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 V & V. 2 years ago on Google
    Very nice collection of books. Saw book from 14 hundreds. There is no plan to digitize this treasure though.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Nas S. 4 years ago on Google
    This is Latin America's first library. Unfortunately you cannot touch the books and only admire the art and history here. We did not expect to visit this library only by fluke and it was worth it.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Marius 1 year ago on Google • 171 reviews
    Wow, what an amazing place for the arts! Apart from seeing the oldest public library in the Americas, they have many rooms with free temporary exhibitions, a place to chill out, a Victor Hugo quote supporting the Mexicans in their defense battle against the French, and lots of chairs to chill out. Really nice, underrated space!
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 3/5 Janaye G. 1 year ago on Google • 142 reviews
    It's an interesting place to visit if you have time, but it's not a must do while in Puebla. My visit was about 3-5 mins. It wasn't crowded, but there were a lot of tour groups visiting during my time there.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Tobias H. 4 years ago on Google • 259 reviews
    Schöner Ort. Bis in die 80er durfte man die Bücher noch anfassen und die Möbel benutzen. Leider haben Touristen das zu sehr ausgenutzt und Sachen kaputt gemacht. Egal, ist trotzdem schön dort. Eintritt 40 Pesos.

  • 5/5 Kate N. 8 months ago on Google • 249 reviews
    The oldest public library in the Americas, a UNESCO world heritage site, and a really fascinating visit. I loved looking at the categories and what an amazing collection of books and manuscripts. This could be as fast as a 10 minute visit or an hour (if you want to look at the book titles behind the glass.)

  • 5/5 Shreesh T. 11 months ago on Google • 228 reviews
    Amazing and ancient library founded by a former bishop of Puebla, and extremely wealthy dude, Juan de Palafox. Today the stunning wooden library houses over 45,000 volumes and is a must visit for any book lover. Do not miss the included tour that goes into detail about the history of the library and the nature of it's collections. They also have a very cool "wheel of books" that allows a reader to read seven books simultaneously.

  • 4/5 Emily 4 months ago on Google • 21 reviews
    It *is* small, but the entry fee is just 45 pesos and it is very beautiful inside. It’s a nice complement to the Puebla museum next door (which is free). It’s just nice to see, even if it doesn’t take more than 10-15 minutes.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Hendrik 2 years ago on Google
    This library is a true treasure. The staff gives interesting tours and provides a lot of context. Can highly recommend to plan a stop and do a visit
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Pablo M. 2 years ago on Google
    Awesome library. Everything, even the floor, is historic. Take the guided tour, it is free, but tips are appreciated.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Wesley E. 1 year ago on Google
    Cool library vibes! Make sure to talk to the staff to hear stories and learn new words for ancient book-related things. You can just look in from the entrance, but I though it was worth the $2 to be surrounded by the smell, touch the wood and learn.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 A M. 1 month ago on Google • 164 reviews New
    A pleasant surprise when we were just checking items off the map, and stumbled upon the oldest public library in Americas. Did not expect to see such a beautiful library. You can tell its long history by just looking at the floor. And wow! those doors.

  • 5/5 Xterra P. 1 month ago on Google • 96 reviews New
    Great collection of historic books. Well worth a visit.

  • 4/5 Rick R. 6 years ago on Google • 82 reviews
    The bibliotecha is inexpensive and provides a close look at books that date back to handwritten manuscripts. The book bindings are mostly all you can see, but select manuscripts have been put on display. Very beautiful.

  • 5/5 L L. 1 year ago on Google
    It is not just the baroque library, which is very nice to see. But the complex it situates in is full of other galleries and in the courtyard there was a large orchestra rehearsing when I was there.

  • 4/5 Michael G. 7 months ago on Google
    Free entry, at least when we visited. Great place to visit if you like books. Enter the building and go up one flight of stairs. 175 peso fee if you want to take any pictures, which seems quite unreasonable.

  • 2/5 Helene F. 4 months ago on Google
    There’s not much difference between being there and looking at the pictures. There’s just one room. Pictures show it in multiple angles and make you feel like there’s more to see.

  • 4/5 Isabell K. 10 months ago on Google
    45 pesos for the entrance, but absolutely worth it

  • 5/5 Tiffany J. 10 months ago on Google
    Absolutely gorgeous historic library! There is no cost to enter. It's located Inside of the cultural building with many temporary exhibits, local crafts and performances happening. I had a wonderful experience here. I was able to use the Google translate camera feature to translate the Spanish that went over my head in the local history exhibits. Don't skip this experience!

  • 4/5 LAUKESTER 1 year ago on Google
    Cute little stop. Just one small room filled with old books and some collectibles. The ladies in the shop (where you pay) aren't the friendliest.

  • 4/5 Andres Chavez L. 2 years ago on Google
    Very small library, but for a library that has 375 years it's really well maintained. Woodwork is amazing, and the books in it are in really good condition. There is no one to give you information about the place. Pictures are allowed but don't bring a tripod you won't be allowed to use it.

  • 4/5 Flavia B. 1 year ago on Google
    Nice and well preserved place. They don’t accept credit cards payment, only cash. But once there it is nice to enjoy the story of this amazing Biblioteca full of ancient books. Very well preserved place. The palace is nice to visit too.

  • 4/5 Chris C. 1 year ago on Google
    Very cool place for a quick visit

  • 4/5 Nate A. 5 years ago on Google
    it's 40 pesos to enter the library which is quite beautiful but all the signs are in Spanish. I believe you can get the audio guide in English but they did not have them when I went there. Also there's some contemporary art once you leave the library in the upstairs viewing galleries.

  • 1/5 Topher T. 2 years ago on Google
    Extremely disappointing that they have not made any efforts to make this place wheelchair accessible. It's on the second floor of a building with no elevator. Some friendly tourists helped us lift our wheelchair up the stairs, but that was just lucky. There was an elevator in Chapultepec Castle in 1896, so there is absolutely no reason not to have an elevator in Puebla's "House of Culture" in 2022. Clearly, they don't care about sharing their culture with people with disabilities.


Call +52 222 232 1227 Open on Google Maps

Amenities


  • Accessibility
    • ✗ Wheelchair accessible parking lot

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