Housed in the Green Palace (Grünes Schloss), a huge Renaissance building constructed in 1563 and now part of the Weimar Classical UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Duchess Anna Amalia Library (Herzogin Anna Amalia Bibliothek) 

also referred to as the Historical Library - houses one of Germany's most important collections of classic literature with more than a million books all told.

 Highlights of the collection include medieval signatures, some of Europe's earliest printed books, along with maps, globes, artwork and artifacts, and the private library of the philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche.