Created in 1971, the Foundation is a library and museum which houses and exhibits some of the greatest literary texts from around the world and throughout human history.

The Foundation is home to around 150,000 documents : hundreds of papyruses, medieval manuscripts from both east and west, thousands of signed pages and rare engravings. The collection includes one of only 48 copies of the Gutenberg Bible left in the world; the oldest complete version of one of the Gospels (Saint John); first editions by Shakespeare, Molière, Egyptian Books of the Dead; Luther’s theses; and documents signed by Mozart, Beethoven...

Since 2015, the so-called “Biblioteca Bodmeriana” has been registered with the UNESCO Memory of the World programme.

Visitors can enjoy the Foundation's treasures through its exhibitions on topics such as science, the arts, history and literature.