Ludwig-Wilhelm-Gymnasium, Rastatt's oldest grammar school, is home to the Rastatt Historical Library. Originally conceived as a monastery library in 1715, the collection is now of such high quality that the institution is one of the leading secondary school libraries in Germany and Baden-Württemberg. It has around 80,000 volumes, including more than 160 incunabula from the early days of book printing, medieval and modern manuscripts and unique items from the 15th and 16th centuries. Since 1987, the Historical Library has fulfilled both library and museum functions and has had the status of a "cultural monument of special significance" since 2004.
