Library, Chomutov, Visitor Guide & Things to Do Nearby

The library on Palackého street in Chomutov is a book collection founded in 1920, built up from the older library of the local gymnasium. It matters as a small piece of the town's educational history, and it sits right next to the statue of Franz Josef Gerstner, the engineer born in Chomutov.

The story behind it

The library was founded in 1920, and its core came from the old library of the town's gymnasium. Since then it has kept growing, with new books added and a wider range of subjects, above all in specialist and technical literature. The route creators put the collection at more than 20,000 volumes.

One title is of special interest to technically minded visitors: the three-volume Handbuch der Mechanik by Franz Josef Gerstner. He was a pioneering engineer born in Chomutov, and his statue stands in the open space by the neighbouring school, so the book and its author are only a few steps apart.

What to look for

• Find the statue of Franz Josef Gerstner in the open space beside the school, a reminder that one of Central Europe's notable engineers came from this town.
• Look at the building itself and its surroundings on Palackého street, and think of the school library tradition that gave the collection its start in 1920.
• Notice how the library and the statue sit close together, which links a famous local figure with a book collection that holds his Handbuch der Mechanik.
• Look at the school grounds around you, because the library belongs to a place of learning rather than a stand-alone showpiece.

Tips for your visit

• Plan a short stop of ten to fifteen minutes to see the exterior and the Gerstner statue.
• Access to the library may be limited, so check current opening hours and visiting rules before you plan to go inside.
• Daylight is best for looking at the statue and the buildings and for taking photos.
• Combine the stop with a longer walk through Chomutov, since the library is easiest to enjoy as one part of a wider route.

See it on a quest

The quest Discover Chomutov - Prozkoumej Chomutov is a good way to see this place. You reach the library on foot as one stop of a longer route through the town, the app tells you about each place as you arrive, and you solve a puzzle on the spot. It is free to play, and you can start whenever you like, with no guide and no group to join.