The "Hildebrandlied", the Gutenberg Bible, etc.: The Renovated "Murhardsche" Showcases Its Treasures

The Murhard Library, prominently located on the “Kassel Museum Island,” has undergone extensive renovation and expansion in several construction phases since July 2017. The new building and the renovated front wing were handed over to the university in 2024 and “partially opened”; now that work on the central building and south wing has also been completed, today’s opening marks the completion of the entire project, and the entire Murhard Library is once again open to the public. The building’s treasure trove is a modern vault where significant medieval manuscripts and other cultural artifacts of world-class importance—which had been in off-site storage since 2012—are now on display. Among them are the Immenhausen Gutenberg Bible (15th century), the 14th-century Willehalm Codex, and the Hildebrandlied. This 9th-century manuscript is considered a unique literary artifact and is the only surviving written record of a Germanic heroic poem in the German language.

The completely renovated Murhard Library now features, in addition to the 210 m² vault for displaying the historical collections (including manuscripts, printed works, and sheet music), now features a state-of-the-art storage facility and security technology, a bright reading room, a special reading room, and training rooms. The interior spaces were designed to preserve the building’s historical character while simultaneously meeting current requirements for accessibility, energy efficiency, safety standards, and modern library use. The historic Eulensaal in the south wing is once again open for events with up to 100 people. 

“With the Murhard Library now fully operational, we are able, on the one hand, to offer adequate, modern reading and work spaces in a historic setting, and on the other hand, to safely display the precious collections, while the Eulensaal has once again become a vibrant cultural venue,” summed up Claudia Martin-Konle, director of the University Library of Kassel.   

Minister of Science Timon Gremmels stated: “The full reopening of the Murhard Library is a great asset for research and for the public. Especially in a digital world, we need libraries as places that impart reliable knowledge, provide guidance, and facilitate exchange. With this renovation and expansion, we are strengthening Kassel as a center of scholarship and making this unique heritage accessible to future generations.”

Finance Minister Professor Dr. R. Alexander Lorz stated: “With the completion of the Murhard Library and its treasure chamber, we are sending another strong signal in support of preserving our cultural heritage. The total cost of approximately 17.9 million euros was funded through the HEUREKA program. Thanks to the professional execution by the State Agency for Construction and Real Estate in Hesse, a modern and secure home for the valuable manuscripts and unique printed books is now available. This is a boon for research and the public.” 

“Since its founding, the Murhard Library has stood for the idea of making education and culture accessible to everyone,” added Kassel’s Mayor Dr. Sven Schoeller. “With its full reopening, Kassel regains a place where significant historical treasures—and thus a valuable part of our cultural heritage—can be experienced by the public. Together with the other cultural institutions on Brüder-Grimm-Platz, it strengthens this special urban space as a vibrant hub for culture, education, and exchange.”

“University libraries are of great social relevance. They serve as a bridge between academic research and the general public. Renovating such a central building and thereby strengthening its role as an educational institution is an investment in the future,” emphasized Dr. Oliver Fromm, Chancellor of the University of Kassel.

Leonhard Lemke, head of the Northern Branch of the Hesse State Construction and Real Estate Agency (LBIH), said: “With the opening of the Murhard Library, the LBIH has completed a complex construction project: The comprehensive renovation of the historic, protected building, its energy-efficiency upgrades, and the new addition were carried out while the library remained open. The comprehensive renovation demonstrates how historic preservation and progress go hand in hand. Visitors can experience this from the new foyer all the way to the historic Eulensaal.”

The project was managed by the Hesse State Construction and Real Estate Agency. The new building was designed by the architectural firm Sichau & Walter (Fulda); the renovation of the central building and south wing was architecturally planned and implemented by ebene 4, architecture and urban planning Linker & Hupfeld (Kassel). 

On (today’s) nationwide Library Day (October 24), visitors were able to tour the building and view the exhibition “Treasures of Parchment and Paper” for the first time as part of an open house. The Hildebrand Song, preserved on two sheets of parchment, is displayed in a specially crafted showcase. This was made possible, on the one hand, by a donation from WIBank, facilitated by Minister of Science Gremmels, and, on the other hand, by donations from Brigitte and Wolfram Bremeier, Sabine Köttelwesch, and Rainer Meyfahrt. “By ensuring the secure display of the Hildebrand Song manuscript, the University Library of Kassel is fulfilling its role as a custodian and promoter of cultural heritage, and we were happy to support this effort,” emphasized Dr. Michael Reckhard, a member of WIBank’s executive board.   

Background:

The Murhard Library is named after Friedrich and Karl Murhard of Kassel, who, in their will of 1845, bequeathed their fortune to their hometown to establish a scholarly public library. The Neo-Renaissance library building opened in 1905 and has been jointly used since 1959 by the two libraries, the “Murhard Library of the City of Kassel” and the “State Library.” This was preceded by the transfer of responsibility for the State Library—the former Electoral Library—from the state to the city of Kassel in 1957. Since 1976, the two libraries have been departments of the Kassel University Library and boast world-class collections, particularly in the areas of manuscripts and autographs. Among the State Library’s most valuable holdings are, for example, medieval manuscripts such as the *Hildebrandlied* from the 9th century, one of the oldest examples of German poetry. 

With its full reopening, the “Murhardsche” is once again open to its users during regular hours. The library can now house approximately 700,000 items and offers modern facilities for study, research, and teaching. At the same time, it serves as an open space for interaction. Regular exhibitions, readings, and events are planned, through which the library will further expand its role as a central hub for culture and knowledge.

Contact:

Sebastian Mense
University of Kassel
Communications, Press and Public Relations
Tel.: +49 561 804-1961
Email: presse[at]uni-kassel[dot]de

Marijana Pavic
University Library of Kassel – State Library and Murhard Library of the City of Kassel
Public Relations
Tel.: +49 561 804-2762
Email: oeffentlichkeitsarbeit[at]bibliothek.uni-kassel[dot]de