French national library

Mazarin and the Guardians of the Secret: our review of the immersive puzzle game at the BnF Richelieu

From November 15, 2025, the BnF Richelieu will be hosting an immersive experience where you'll have to unravel Cardinal Mazarin's greatest secret, through puzzles in the heart of the Bibliothèque nationale de France site.

Barbara: the BnF François-Mitterrand celebrates the icon of French song in an exhibition

Calling all Barbara fans! Nearly 30 years after her death, the BnF François-Mitterrand is honoring the career of this true icon of French music in a unique exhibition entitled "Dis quand reviendras-tu ? Barbara et son public" (When will you come back? Barbara and her audience). This cultural event can be discovered from January 27 to April 5, 2026, in the Donors' Gallery.

Imaginary maps, inventing worlds: the sensory exhibition at the BnF François-Mitterrand

From March 24 to July 19, 2026, the BnF François-Mitterrand is offering a rare immersion into cartography and its imaginary territories, through more than 200 works, for a journey to the frontiers of reality and fiction.

BnF François Mitterrand, the huge Parisian library ideal for revision, but not only

In the 13th arrondissement, it's impossible to miss these 4 immense buildings overlooking the banks of the Seine: designed to resemble an open book, the four towers of the François Mitterrand library offer a place to read, work in silence, do research and consult hundreds of thousands of documents.

The BnF François-Mitterand Belvedere: the little-known panorama of Paris, practical information

Perched atop the Tour des Lois of the Bibliothèque nationale de France, the Belvédère on the François-Mitterrand site offers a spectacular view of Paris. Accessible only on guided tours, it combines architectural discovery, history and an exceptional panorama.

Journées du Patrimoine 2025 at BnF sites in Paris

For the Journées du Patrimoine, the BnF is opening its doors to us on September 20 and 21, 2025. What's on the program? Discover the different sites, visit the restoration workshops and view a wide range of documents!

Journées du Patrimoine 2025: visit the BNF Richelieu historic site in Paris

The Richelieu site of the Bibliothèque Nationale de France opens its historic doors to you on the occasion of the Journées du Patrimoine, September 20 and 21, 2025.

Miu Miu Summer Reads pop up: the Italian house distributes free books in Paris - our photos

Miu Miu brings reading back into fashion with Summer Reads, its free literary pop-up. For this 2nd edition, head for the Bibliothèque nationale de France - site Richelieu, on June 27 and 28, 2025, to take home one of the novels written by two visionary authors, given a Miu Miu makeover, in an iconic setting steeped in history.

Did you know? In Paris, a forest garden hides in a library

A garden... In a library? Yes, that's the concept of a very famous Parisian library, which boasts a hidden forest right in the heart of Paris.

Did you know? BnF's four towers look like open books

Immense and majestic, the four towers of the François Mitterrand National Library dominate the urban landscape of the 12th and 13th arrondissements. We explain their history.

Apocalypse, yesterday and tomorrow: final days of the exhibition at BnF François-Mitterrand

Is the apocalypse just around the corner? The BnF François-Mitterrand explores this age-old theme in an exhibition on display until June 8, 2025, from the Bible to the present day.

A free cultural weekend on artificial intelligence at BnF and La Conciergerie

In conjunction with the Summit for Action on Artificial Intelligence (AI), a cultural weekend invites you to question yourself about this technological revolution through free events and conferences on the weekend of February 8 and 9, 2025.

Family events: a weekend of free activities at the Bnf Richelieu in December

On Saturday December 7 and Sunday December 8, 2024, the Bnf Richelieu invites families to discover this exceptional Paris venue during a special weekend.

Nautic Paddle 2024: the world's largest stand-up paddle race returns to the Seine this winter

Described as the world's biggest stand-up paddle race, the Nautic Paddle returns to Paris this winter. Join us on Sunday, December 1, 2024 on the Seine to experience this new edition!

BnF Richelieu, the historic home of the Bibliothèque nationale de France and its museum

The Richelieu site, located in the 2nd arrondissement of Paris, is the historic birthplace of the Bibliothèque nationale de France, which has housed collections of royal documents since 1721. A historic site, recently modernized, accessible to all!

The Bibliothèque Parlante 2024, BnF's literary festival

From May 31 to June 2, 2024, the Bibliothèque nationale de France celebrates literature aloud, with its "La Bibliothèque Parlante" festival, featuring a carte blanche by Jean-Michel Ribes.

Rendez-vous aux Jardins 2024 at the BNF-François Mitterand: An unusual visit to the forest garden

The BNF (Bibliothèque Nationale de France - François Mitterand) is inviting us to discover its forest garden as part of the Rendez-vous aux Jardins event in Paris and the Île-de-France region from May 31 to June 2, 2024.

The Richelieu Library, historic birthplace of the BNF

The Bibliothèque Richelieu is one of the most beautiful libraries in Paris. Discover it for yourself!

Noir et Blanc, the Grand Palais 100% digital photo exhibition

The Grand Palais teams up with the Bibliothèque Nationale de France to display “Noir et Blanc: une esthétique de la photographie” [Black and White: a photography aesthetic], an exhibition that was to discover at the Grand Palais. Unfortunately, the exhibition will not open to the public, but awaits on the Grand Palais website. Conference-tours are available online from February 18, to June 18, 2021.

MK2 Bibliothèque: one of the biggest cinemas in Paris

Looking for space? MK2 Bibliothèque is the 3rd largest cinema complex in Paris!