On a hilltop east of town with a sensational view of Cardigan Bay, the National Library is a cultural powerhouse. Founded in 1916, it holds millions of books in many languages – as a copyright library it has copies of every book published in the UK. Among its 25,000 manuscripts are such gems as the 13th-century Black Book of Carmarthen (the oldest existing Welsh text), a text of Chaucer penned by his scribe Adam Pinkhurst, and a 1st edition of Paradise Lost.
Another highlight is the Nanteos Cup – one of many candidates across Europe for the Holy Grail. Other galleries display an ever-stimulating set of changing exhibitions (some of which charge fees) featuring the library's collection and Welsh heritage in general. Check the website for the latest opening times.
