The François-Mitterrand site of the Bibliothèque nationale de France (BnF) is well known as one of the libraries where students, teleworkers and researchers like to come to revise, especially on Sundays since it's the only one open in the capital on that day. A veritable treasure trove, the library's collections include hundreds of thousands of books, which the general public can consult throughout the week, as well as a research library reserved for researchers.
In 1996, this brand-new site of the Bibliothèque nationale de France opened to the public for the first time: the idea behind the immense towers and numerous reading rooms was to expand and modernize the Bibliothèque nationale, which already included the historic sites of Richelieu, Arsenal, Opéra and Jean-Vilar. Designed byarchitect Dominique Perrault, the building comprises the four tall towers seen in the distance, housing numerous offices and a huge basement housing the collections, reading rooms, café... And a gigantic one-hectare interior garden!
Unlike municipal libraries, you can't borrow books and documents from the Bibliothèque François Mitterrand: you'll need to consult them on site, in the reading rooms set aside for this purpose. With around ten reading rooms, you have free access to a wide range of collections (press, audiovisual, science and technology, law, economics and politics, literature, art, philosophy, history, etc.), and it's in these rooms that you'll find plenty of tables, armchairs, electrical outlets and wifi, essential for teleworkers and students who come to study at the BnF. If you've come to study or work, we advise you to arrive early, especially on Sundays, as the reading rooms are overcrowded and quickly saturated (making access impossible for newcomers).
Admission to the reading room is €5 per person per day, and if you enter after 5pm, the ticket is free. If you're a regular visitor, you'll want to take advantage of the reading/culture pass, which offersunlimited admissions throughout the year: full price €24, reduced price €15 (under 26 and students under 35). For researchers who prefer to consult the research library, a research pass is also available: full price 55 €, reduced price 35 €.
For a coffee break, snack or lunch, the Café des Globes, the cafeteria of the François Mitterrand Library, serves you throughout its opening hours. You'll find coffees, hot or cold drinks, cakes, sandwiches, salads... And when the weather's nice, the café opens its terrace to the sun: don't miss out!
Free exhibitions are held throughout the year, and there's a bookshop on site to stock up on general or specialist books! Whether you're looking for a quiet place to revise, a place to study specific books or a library dedicated to research, the BnF François Mitterrand is open every day!
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. [Read more]
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. [Read more]
Les mondes de Colette: the exhibition on the inspirational woman of letters at the BnF François-Mitterand
From September 23, 2025 to January 18, 2026, the Bibliothèque nationale de France, on the François-Mitterand site, celebrates a major figure in French literature, Colette, in an original and moving exhibition. [Read more]
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. [Read more]
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. [Read more]
Dates and Opening Time
Starts December 8, 2025
Location
BnF - Site François Mitterrand
Quai François Mauriac
75013 Paris 13
Official website
www.bnf.fr
