It’s price trying out the spectacular structure of the Labrouste Studying Room and Oval Room on the Richelieu Library in Paris. Simply don’t make my mistake and solely google “Bibliothèque Nationale de France (Nationwide Library of France)” as a result of there are 4 Nationwide Library of France websites.
[Updated February 20, 2024]
I started my search with Google Maps. I typed within the “Nationwide Library of France”. That is what popped up: Francois-Mitterrand Library, situated within the thirteenth arrondissement. I simply assumed the Labrouste Studying Room was situated there. I headed on the Metro and arrived at this very trendy constructing. Odd, I assumed. The within of the library that I noticed within the picture appeared actually previous. Unsure how it could be housed on this constructing, however OK, I’ll go searching.
Website #1: Bibliothèque Francois-Mitterrand
The development of the library was introduced by President Francois Mitterrand in 1988 and the constructing was lastly inaugurated in 1996. Because the design may be very trendy and the constructing is especially massive and excessive, additionally it is generally known as the “Très Grande Bibliothèque” or ”TGB”.
You should buy a 1 day “Studying Ticket” for five € and you may get a “free” ticket for entry between 5:00-8:00 pm. It offers you entry to the “studying rooms of the final public library”. There are additionally 1-1.2 hour guided excursions at this library on Wednesdays (3:00 pm), Saturdays (5:00 pm) and Sundays (3:00 pm).
Pictures Exhibit
I wandered down the corridors that surrounded a big courtyard stuffed with bushes and stumbled on a pictures exhibit. Some attention-grabbing work was on show, however what actually caught my consideration was the everlasting exhibition, entitled, “Les Globes”.
The Globes of Louis XIV
King Louis XIV (1638-1715), often known as the Solar King, was finest identified for his curiosity within the arts, music, and literature. He was additionally interested by science as properly and established the Paris Observatory and the French Academy of Sciences. One in every of his commissions concerned the creation of two globes in 1681: a terrestrial globe and a celestial globe.
The picture above, sadly, doesn’t adequately present how gorgeous they’re nor how huge they’re. Truly, they’re gigantic. Every is slightly below 4 metres (12 ft) in diameter. One of many globes appears to be like like a standard map of the earth whereas the opposite reveals the horoscope and photo voltaic system. They have been created by Venetian cartographer Vincenzo Coronelli and are sometimes now known as The Coronelli Globes. By way of the centuries the globes have had varied properties, together with Chateau de Versailles.
So whereas the Francois-Mitterrand library was not precisely the library I used to be anticipating to see, it turned out to be a nice shock. As I ready to go away, I confirmed the safety guard a photograph of the library I wished to see. He stated, “No, that [photo] is on the Richelieu website?” What?!?! I proceeded to find the Richelieu Library on Google Maps and headed again to the centre of Paris.
Website #2: Richelieu Library
The Richelieu library, situated simply north of Palais Royal is a grand construction. It oozes French historical past (as in comparison with the opposite library which “oozes” trendy structure) and was constructed within the mid-Nineteenth century. The vestibule of this library is spectacular with an enormous chandelier and stone carvings on the wall.
I first visited the Richelieu Library in 2018 when renovations have been in progress, after which once more in 2023 when the renovations have been accomplished. Throughout this latter go to, I took a guided tour.
(a) Labrouste Studying Room
One of many fundamental points of interest on the Richelieu website is the Labrouste Studying Room (the Salle Labrouste) and until you’re a researcher or scholar, you may solely stand on the doorway to take images. You can not enter until you’re a scholar or researcher. Not like Bibliothèque Francois-Mitterrand the place you should buy a one-day move to offer you entry to the Labrouste studying room, I didn’t see any alternative to do that on the Richelieu LIbrary. Standing on the doorway was adequate for me to get some nice pictures.
The studying room is called after Henri Labrouste who was the architect of the Imperial Library in 1854. Architects Bruno Gaudin and Jean-François Lagneau have been spearheading the renovations since 2008. In September 2022, the renovations have been lastly accomplished and a brand new entrance for guests was constructed on rue de Vivienne.
(b) Oval Room (Salle Ovale)
College students, researchers, and guests can now entry the Oval Room, freed from cost. There’s additionally a brand new staircase taking you to the absolutely renovated Mazarin wing on the primary flooring, the place there’s a museum and exhibitions. One attention-grabbing manuscript on show is Victor Hugo’s “Notre-Dame de Paris”.
(c) Different Areas At The Richelieu Library
As I wandered down a hallway whereas renovations have been happening, I noticed a stairway resulting in the following flooring. I proceeded up the steps hoping to discover a vantage level to take extra images from above; nonetheless, as soon as I obtained up there, the door was locked. As I proceeded again down, a scholar signaled to me to move in one other course. He was quietly indicating that there was one other stairway to get upstairs. I nodded a thanks to him and headed up these stairs.
Rotonde des Arts du Spectacle
After I arrived, I discovered the Rotonde des Arts du Spectacle. There have been artifacts and collections from the Performing Arts Division behind show circumstances and there was additionally a glass door that led into the Auguste Rondel gallery. Rondel was a patron of the humanities and on this space are the Uncommon Guide Reserves. The entire space virtually appeared untouched. Plenty of wooden and is fantastically designed. In fact, I couldn’t enter. It was locked. I don’t know if I used to be even allowed there and I really feel fairly privileged to have seen the rooms.
Guided Tour Of The Richelieu Museum
The Richelieu Museum has 2 excursions: one is of the museum and the opposite is of the Richelieu website.
(a) Richelieu Museum Guided Tour
Earlier than travelling to France in December 2024, I ordered tickets to tour the BnF’s Richelieu museum with a information. It was 15 € and I’ll be trustworthy: as I’m not fluent in French I couldn’t benefit from the French-speaking information who talked concerning the historical past and structure of the museum and a few of the vital items that we noticed through the tour. The web site says, “International languages on request: English, Spanish, German, Italian”, nonetheless, this was not the case, a minimum of once I went.
I understood some issues however not all. You might be supplied with audiophones; nonetheless, that is merely to allow you to listen to the information extra simply. I used to be given a printed information (“plan”) and it was all in French. The museum is accessed through a stunning marble staircase that takes you to the second flooring. After you move by the flowery glass and steel gates, you enter the museum and move by many rooms, transferring chronologically by the ages.
On show are a few of the most vital items of Greek, Roman, and French historical past relationship again to the Center Ages. They embody a Seventeenth-century medaillier (a medal field or cupboard made from Coromandel Chinese language lacquer), medals, work, sculptures, manuscripts, jewellery, silverware, costumes, cupboards, and Greek vases. Most of the objects date again to the first century.
One of many rooms offers a panoramic view of the Salle Ovale studying room. And the view is magnificent.
However it’s the closing room with the spectacular painted ceiling (protecting an space of 280 m²) that’s most spectacular. The fresco was impressed by Greco-Roman mythology. It’s the Galerie Mazarin, which was commissioned by Cardinal Mazarin to accommodate his massive assortment of work and sculptures, thought-about a “gallery of treasures”. Mazarin was a politician and chief minister to the Kings of France, Louis XIII and Louis XiV. The gallery was constructed between 1644 and 1646 by François Mansart and had a serious restoration carried out in 2018-2019.
Guided Museum Excursions can be found:
- Tuesdays: 6-7 pm
- Wednesdays: 4-5:30 pm
- Saturdays: 11-12:30 pm and three:30-5:00 pm
- Sundays: 11-12:30 pm and a couple of:00-3:00 pm
(b) Richelieu Website Guided Tour
The price of the tour on the Richelieu website is 9 € and you’re supplied with audiophiles to listen to the information.
Guided Richelieu Website Excursions can be found:
- Tuesdays-11:30-1:00 pm, 1:00-4:30 pm, and 6-7:30 pm
- Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays: 11:30-1:00 pm, 1:00-4:30 pm.
(c) Unbiased Go to To The Richelieu Museum
The fee to go to the museum by yourself is 10 €. In hindsight, I ought to have simply gotten this ticket because it supplied entry to the identical areas that the information took me to.
Visiting the Richelieu website will offer you magnificent structure price seeing. There are restricted excursions and you may verify to see if one is out there on their web site:
Richelieu Website of the Nationwide Library of France
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Bibliothèque Nationale de France
The Bibliothèque Nationale de France (BnF) was based on the Louvre Palace by King Charles V in 1368. At this time it’s the seventh largest library on the earth with over 40 million catalogued objects. Once you’re in Paris, remember to try the library on the Richelieu website and the non permanent exhibitions on the Francois-Mitterrand location. There are guided excursions at every.
Web site: Bibliothèque Nationale de France
By way of the centuries, the library has moved to numerous areas all through Paris and whereas I’ve solely written about two of the Nationwide Library of France websites, you by no means know. The opposite two websites may be equally as spectacular. Listed here are the 4 Nationwide Library of France websites:
Bibliothèque Website Richelieu (59 Rue de Richelieu):
- Monday 2:00 pm-7:30 pm
- Tuesday-Saturday 9:00 am-8:00 pm
- Sunday 10:00 am-6:00 pm
Bibliothèque Francois-Mitterrand (Quai Francois Mauriac):
- Monday 2 p.m. – 8 p.m. (Analysis Library)
- Tuesday-Saturday 9 a.m. – 8 p.m.
- Sunday 1 p.m. – 7 p.m.
Bibliotheque de l’Arsenal (1 Rue de Sully):
- Monday 2:00 pm-7:00 pm
- Tuesday-Friday 10 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
- Saturday 10 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
- Sunday closed
Bibliothèque Nationale de France-Musée de l’Opéra (8 Rue Scribe)
- Monday – Saturday 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
