Historic Hungarian Abbey Battles Beetle Library Infestation

Hungary’s 1,000-year-old Pannonhalma Archabbey, a Benedictine monastery and UNESCO World Heritage site, is battling a severe drugstore beetle infestation threatening its historic library of 400,000 volumes. Restoration teams have classified the entire collection as infected, prompting the urgent removal of around 100,000 handbound, centuries-old books for specialized disinfection. The infestation, discovered during routine cleaning when dust and holes were found in book spines, is described by chief restorer Zsófia Edit Hajdu as unprecedented in the abbey’s history. The drugstore beetle is attracted to the gelatin and starch adhesives used in bookbinding, enabling it to damage a significant portion of the collection. The library holds many of Hungary’s oldest and most significant historical texts, making the threat critical for both national and European heritage. Despite surviving centuries of conflict, the abbey now faces one of its most serious threats from these insects.