Description
The Bibliothèque nationale de France (BnF) is responsible for more than 40 million documents collected over the five centuries of its existence. In addition to books, magazines, photographs, prints, maps, sheet music, audio and audiovisual documents and video games collected through legal deposit, the library’s collections also include manuscripts, coins and medals, and theatre sets and costumes. All intellectual, artistic, and scientific disciplines are represented, in an encyclopaedic spirit.
A place par excellence for the dissemination of knowledge, the BnF, on its various sites (François-Mitterrand, Richelieu, Arsenal and Opéra) offers reading rooms for study and research, and has a cultural programme both on site and online. Each year, it organizes some fifteen exhibitions to promote the richness of its collections and hosts some one hundred readings, lectures, shows and concerts. The François Mitterrand site hosts more than 200 cultural events: talks, colloques, projections, master classes and presents the annual festival Bibliothèque Parlante (in June) where the greatest actors gather for exceptional readings and meetings. The BnF collections can also be discovered through its many exhibitions featuring major literary figures (Proust, Champollion, Baudelaire, Tolkien, the Surrealists …) or major themes (the world of spheres, manuscripts of the extreme, a century of exploration…).
A programme of themed visits and practical workshops for all complements the cultural programme and the resources of the reading rooms.
A place par excellence for the dissemination of knowledge, the BnF, on its various sites (François-Mitterrand, Richelieu, Arsenal and Opéra) offers reading rooms for study and research, and has a cultural programme both on site and online. Each year, it organizes some fifteen exhibitions to promote the richness of its collections and hosts some one hundred readings, lectures, shows and concerts. The François Mitterrand site hosts more than 200 cultural events: talks, colloques, projections, master classes and presents the annual festival Bibliothèque Parlante (in June) where the greatest actors gather for exceptional readings and meetings. The BnF collections can also be discovered through its many exhibitions featuring major literary figures (Proust, Champollion, Baudelaire, Tolkien, the Surrealists …) or major themes (the world of spheres, manuscripts of the extreme, a century of exploration…).
A programme of themed visits and practical workshops for all complements the cultural programme and the resources of the reading rooms.
Architectural style
- Contemporain
Collections
- Affiches
- Antiquités
- Arts graphiques
- Auditorium
- Bibliothèque
- Camées
- Cinéma
- Costumes
- Dessins
- Enluminures
- Estampes
- Films
- Gravures
- Histoire
- Iconographie
- Illustrations
- Journaux
- Lettres autographes
- Lithographies
- Littérature
Epoque des collections
- Grèce antique (800 av JC au Ier ap JC)
- Rome antique (VIIe av JC au Ve ap JC)
- Paléochrétien (Ier - IVe)
- Byzance (IVe - XVe)
- Moyen Age (Ve - XVe)
- Islam (VIIe)
- Roman (Xe - XIIe)
- Gothique (XIIe - XVe)
- Renaissance (XVe - XVIe)
- Maniérisme (XVIe)
- Baroque (XVIe - XVIIe)
- Rococo (XVIIIe)
- Néoclassicisme (XVIIIe - XIXe)
- Romantisme (XVIIIe - XIXe)
- Réalisme (XIXe)
- Impressionnisme (XIXe)
- Symbolisme (XIXe)
- Fauvisme (XXe)
- Cubisme (XXe)
- Modernisme (XXe)
- Mésopotamie (3000 av JC)
Garden
The garden is situated in between the 4 towers: it can be seen from all over the Library, but entry is not permitted.
Services
Services and facilities of the establishment
- Educational activities
- Gift shop
- Bookshop
- Coach park
- Restaurant
- Visitor tools
- Free Wifi
- Cloakroom
Languages spoken
- English
- German
- Spanish
- French sign language
Documentation in a foreign language
- English
- German
- Spanish
Visitor tools
Activity booklet and booklet to accompany the visit to the temporary exhibitions; Mediation resources on the building and the library for the public or for people with disabilities; Audiophone and magnetic loopEducational activities
Guided tours of sites (François Mitterrand, Richelieu, Arsenal); Workshops relating to the programme of exhibitions; Workshops related to the collections of the BnF (Book workshops, Pop Up…); Workshops and visits adapted to people with disabilities in groups and individuals (adults, children, families)Restaurant
The Café des Globes in the Bibliothèque nationale de France welcomes you for coffee break or a snack.Coach park
Stop for drop-off and pick-up of passengers: free of charge, without authorization, limited to the time necessary for the drop-off and pick-up of passengers; Parking (paying)24 / 24 and 7 / 7 with obligatory PASS Autocar; period of time 4 / 6 / 12 / 24 hours; Nearest parking: the biggest coach parking areas (80 places); The PASS Autocar: The PASS Autocar is a parking ticket that must be used by any coach parked in Paris. More information: (information available in French, English, Spanish, German and Italian); A municipal decree of 5 January 2017 regulates traffic, stopping and parking in tourist areas.Prices and times
Entrance fees and modalities
Independent tour
Exhibition: €9 full price and €7 reduced price.
Guided tour
Supplement of €3 on the price of the admission ticket (site and exhibitions);
Booking is necessary at the booking office by email at visites@bnf.fr or by telephone on 01 53 79 49 49
Booking is necessary at the booking office by email at visites@bnf.fr or by telephone on 01 53 79 49 49
Group tour
Of the building, tour of the contemporary art collection, temporary exhibitions, from €45; For external guides, a booking fee of €20 is added to the entrance chargeFree
Admission to the site is free of charge, but exhibitions and certain events are subject to a charge (free exhibitions for under 18s only);
See the website of the BnF: https://www.bnf.fr/fr/tarifs-dacces-aux-bibliotheques-et-de-loffre-culturelle
See the website of the BnF: https://www.bnf.fr/fr/tarifs-dacces-aux-bibliotheques-et-de-loffre-culturelle
Free for young people and children
Exhibitions free for under 18s, visits to the site free for under 12sMethods of payment
- CB/Visa
- Eurocard/Mastercard
- Traveler's Cheques
- Chèque Vacances
Other methods of payment: Chèque culture – uniquement sur les expos ; espèces ; chèques
Opening times
Site: Monday from 2 - 8pm; Tuesday to Saturday 9am - 8pm; Sunday 1 - 7pm;
Public Library: Monday to Saturday 10am - 8pm; Sunday 1pm - 7pm;
Research Library: Monday 2 - 8pm; Tuesday to Saturday 9 am - 8pm;
Exhibitions: Monday to Saturday 10am - 7pm; Sunday 1pm - 7pm.
Public Library: Monday to Saturday 10am - 8pm; Sunday 1pm - 7pm;
Research Library: Monday 2 - 8pm; Tuesday to Saturday 9 am - 8pm;
Exhibitions: Monday to Saturday 10am - 7pm; Sunday 1pm - 7pm.
Exceptional opening
- 1 January
- Easter
- Easter Monday
- Ascension Day
- 1 May
- 8 May
- Whitsuntide
- Whit Monday
- 14 July
- 15 August
- 1 November
- 11 November
- 25 December
Contact
Voir la carte
Bibliothèque Nationale de France - Site François Mitterrand
Quai François Mauriac
75706
Paris
cedex Cedex 13
Tel.. +33 (0) 1 53 79 59 59
visites@bnf.fr
www.bnf.fr
-
Subway - Bibliothèque François Mitterrand
-
RER - Bibliothèque François Mitterrand
-
SNCF - Gare d'Austerlitz
-
Bus - 62, 64, 89, 132, 325
-
Vélib' (rue Pau Casals, quai François Mauriac, quai de la gare)
Sustainable
Sustainable development approach
The National Library of France has been committed to a sustainable development policy since 2007: green spaces are treated ecologically and favour the development of biodiversity, waste can be sorted in public spaces, works have allowed for a reduction in energy consumption.
Disability
Offer adapted to disabled visitors
-
Hearing
-
Mental
-
Physical
-
Visual
Access facilities
- Adapted activities and visits
- Loan of wheelchairs
- Free admission for disabled visitors on presentation of proof
- Free admission for the accompanying person
- Priority admission
Accessibility information
Motor disability:
- Parking on request and presentation of a disability badge 48 hours in advance (accueil.handicap@bnf.fr), access to staff parking area from Monday to Saturday for arrival before 2.30pm and on Sundays for arrival between 11.45am and 1.45pm (please specify the names of all people attending and the registration number of the vehicle, due to the Vigipirate security plan)
- Floor-level entrance on Avenue de France and access by lift
- Lowered and adapted reception desk, access gate allowing for autonomy
- Adapted communal toilets with grab rail and adapted sink
- Restaurant with wide aisles and adapted tables for wheelchair users.
------------------
Visual impairment:
- Secure guiding path with tactile floor and sound terminals from the edge of the site to the welcome desk
- transparent glass walls/doors marked with contrasting elements
- no head-level obstacles in the corridors
- stairs with tactile and visual contrast before first step down with continuous hand rail and contrasting step edges
- lift with speakers to announce floor numbers, portable electronic magnifying glasses, video enlargers, reading machines, Vocale Presse software, braille and large font
- adapted exhibitions.
------------------
Hearing impairment:
- Magnetic induction loop, subscription to a French Sign Language interpreting service and real-time subtitles at all information points (this subscription also allows deaf and hard-of-hearing visitors to contact the Library online before arrival)
- auditoriums and certain public telephones equipped with induction loops
- tours and conferences interpreted in French Sign Language, audio headsets with induction loop available
------------------
Mental disability:
- Trained/educated staff
- easy to understand and legible signs with pictograms
- entrance monitored by CCTV and visible from reception.
- Parking on request and presentation of a disability badge 48 hours in advance (accueil.handicap@bnf.fr), access to staff parking area from Monday to Saturday for arrival before 2.30pm and on Sundays for arrival between 11.45am and 1.45pm (please specify the names of all people attending and the registration number of the vehicle, due to the Vigipirate security plan)
- Floor-level entrance on Avenue de France and access by lift
- Lowered and adapted reception desk, access gate allowing for autonomy
- Adapted communal toilets with grab rail and adapted sink
- Restaurant with wide aisles and adapted tables for wheelchair users.
------------------
Visual impairment:
- Secure guiding path with tactile floor and sound terminals from the edge of the site to the welcome desk
- transparent glass walls/doors marked with contrasting elements
- no head-level obstacles in the corridors
- stairs with tactile and visual contrast before first step down with continuous hand rail and contrasting step edges
- lift with speakers to announce floor numbers, portable electronic magnifying glasses, video enlargers, reading machines, Vocale Presse software, braille and large font
- adapted exhibitions.
------------------
Hearing impairment:
- Magnetic induction loop, subscription to a French Sign Language interpreting service and real-time subtitles at all information points (this subscription also allows deaf and hard-of-hearing visitors to contact the Library online before arrival)
- auditoriums and certain public telephones equipped with induction loops
- tours and conferences interpreted in French Sign Language, audio headsets with induction loop available
------------------
Mental disability:
- Trained/educated staff
- easy to understand and legible signs with pictograms
- entrance monitored by CCTV and visible from reception.
More details on accessibility
Extend your search
Exhibition and Trade Show venue in the same district: Gare d'Austerlitz - Bibliothèque nationale de France F. Mitterrand
Exhibition and Trade Show venue in Paris and in the Paris Region: Exhibition and Trade Show venue
