The Mazarine Library, France's oldest public library

Published by Manon de Sortiraparis · Published on April 12th, 2021 at 10:18 p.m.
The Bibliothèque Mazarine is France's oldest public library. And you can visit it!

The Bibliothèque Mazarine, located in the 6th arrondissement of Paris, is the oldest public library in France and well worth a visit.

It was built by Cardinal Mazarin, who asked librarian and man of letters Gabriel Naudé to build a library at least as extensive as the one he already had in Rome. Naudé travelled all over Europe, adding new works to the library, which reached 40,000 in 1648. At the time, the library was the largest in Europe.

During the Fronde, in 1652, the works housed in the library were dispersed and sold. Gabriel Naudé fortunately managed to save part of the collections. In 1653, Naudé died, and Mazarin asked his former collaborator, François de la Poterie, to reconstitute a library. This he did with ease, enabling the new library to regain the splendor and content of the first, by 1661.

La Bibliothèque Mazarine, la plus ancienne bibliothèque publique de FranceLa Bibliothèque Mazarine, la plus ancienne bibliothèque publique de FranceLa Bibliothèque Mazarine, la plus ancienne bibliothèque publique de FranceLa Bibliothèque Mazarine, la plus ancienne bibliothèque publique de France

This time, to prevent the new library from being dispersed, Mazarin moved it and bequeathed it to the Collège des Quatre-Nations. By the end of the 18th century, it contained 60,000 works. During the French Revolution, the Collège was abolished, but the Bibliothèque Mazarine remained open to the public, as it had been since 1643.

Today, 600,000 works are available to students and researchers. And the simply curious can even take part in free guided tours led by one of the library's curators. It's a great way to discover the rich architecture and decor of this majestic library: galleries with 17th-century wood panelling, books up to the ceiling, statues, large tables, green lamps.... What an atmosphere!

Practical information

Location

23 Quai de Conti
75006 Paris 6

Prices
Free

Comments
Refine your search
Refine your search
Refine your search
Refine your search