Bnf

Barbara: The legendary French singer-songwriter honored in a new exhibition at the BnF François-Mitterrand

Attention, Barbara fans! Nearly 30 years after her passing, the François-Mitterrand Library (BnF) is celebrating the legendary singer-songwriter with a brand-new exhibition titled "Dis quand reviendras-tu? Barbara et son public". This unique cultural event is free to the public and runs from January 27 to April 5, 2026, in the Donors' Gallery.

Nights of Reading 2026: Evening reading event in the Oval Room at the Richelieu Branch of the National Library of France

What if the story of the universe fit within the walls of a library? During the 2026 Nights of Reading, the BnF Richelieu opens its doors for an immersive journey into the witty and scholarly poetry of Raymond Queneau. Beneath the grand, vaulted ceilings of this historic site, be guided through a reading of “The Little Portable Cosmology” for a literary voyage to the origins of the world—an exploration blending knowledge with imagination.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

In the FanXoa and mastO archives of Bérurier Noir: the exhibition at the BnF, our photos

The FanXoa and mastO archives of Bérurier Noir will be on display at the BnF François-Mitterrand in Paris from February 27 to April 28, 2024, in a free, never-before-seen installation. This is an opportunity for nostalgic fans to delve into the band's past through a hundred or so items, including notebooks, photographs, videos, stage props, posters and fanzines.

Black & White exhibition at the BNF

Lovers of sublime black and white photography, this exhibition is for you. Head to the BNF from October 17, 2023 to January 21, 2024 to discover black and white masterpieces from the photographic collections of the Bibliothèque nationale de France.

Print ! The Europe of Gutenberg, the literary exhibition at the BnF François-Mitterrand

Without Gutenberg's incredible invention in the 15th century, reading a book would be much more complicated today. Discover the history of this innovation, thanks to exceptional pieces, at the François-Mitterand Library, until July 16, 2023.

Pastiches de presse, the free and comical exhibition at the BnF François-Mitterrand

When art parodies newspapers... The BnF François-Mitterrand plunges us into the comical world of press pastiches with a free exhibition to be seen from April 4 to October 29, 2023.

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.