One of the iconic places to visit in Paris is undoubtedly the François Mitterrand French National Library. Also known as the "Very Large Library," it is the main site of the BNF (National Library of France). Located in Tolbiac in the 13th arrondissement of Paris on the left bank of the Seine, this area is sometimes referred to as the "new Latin Quarter" due to the numerous university and cultural institutions established there today.
Among these are the University of Paris-Diderot, the Inalco, the École Nationale Supérieure d'Architecture Paris-Val de Seine, and the École des Hautes Études en Sciences Sociales. Designed by Dominique Perrault, the library is accessible via the "Bibliothèque François Mitterrand" and "Quai de la Gare" Metro stations.
The library, which occupies a site of 7.5 hectares and features a 60,000 m² esplanade, is the largest library in France and one of the most important libraries in the world, with a collection of tens of millions of books, periodicals, audio and video documents, microfiches, and more. It boasts an extraordinary variety of books in multiple languages and from different eras.
On the wooden esplanade stand four angular towers, each over 80 meters high: the towers of Time, Law, Numbers, and Letters, symbolizing four open books of knowledge. These towers house seven floors of offices and eleven floors of library space.
At the heart of this complex, a 12,000 m² enclosed garden offers readers a sense of tranquility. Throughout the year, the French National library hosts exhibitions, conferences, symposia, concerts, cultural events, and activities for young audiences.
Inheriting royal collections amassed since the late Middle Ages, this building was completed in 1995 and opened to the public in 1996. After the majority of the collections were moved from Rue de Richelieu, it began welcoming researchers in its garden level in 1998.
A visit to the library is essential to understand the history of the Bibliothèque nationale de France, its origins, organization, and missions, while also discovering in detail the architecture of the building.
The visit will take you through the underground reading rooms, to the gigantic globes of Louis XIV, designed by Coronelli. You can walk along the garden, enjoy the harmonious lights and colors of the space, and access the upper floors of the towers. From there, you’ll have a magnificent view of the building's surroundings. Enjoy a beautiful visit and a surprising discovery.
