BnF Museum

Welcome to the historic Richelieu site of the Bee-blee-oh-tek Nah-see-oh-nal duh Frahns, the National Library of France. This architectural masterpiece stands as a profound testament to the enduring power of human knowledge,…

Step into the breathtaking Sahl Oh-val, the Oval Room, affectionately nicknamed the Oval Paradise. This colossal reading room is an architectural triumph, designed initially by Jean-Louis Pascal and completed by his successor…

Leaving the serene enclosure of the Oval Room, we approach the magnificent Grand Staircase, a striking modern addition conceived by architect Bruno Gaudin during the recent extensive renovations. Constructed of gleaming aluminum,…

We now enter the crown jewel of the Richelieu site, the spectacular Gah-luh-ree Mah-zah-rahn. Built in the mid-seventeenth century, this dimly lit, cavernous space is one of the very few surviving examples of a Baroque gallery in…

Moving onward, we arrive at the spaces dedicated to the immense legacy of Honoré Théodoric d'Albert de Luynes, a nineteenth-century aristocrat, archaeologist, and passionate collector. The Duke of Luynes dedicated his…

We now step into the Cabinet Précieux, a secure sanctuary housing the most extraordinarily valuable objects from the former Cabinet of the King. This room sparkles with the concentrated wealth of monarchs and the meticulous…

Our final interior stop is the sumptuous Salon Louis Cahnz, a room that transports you directly to the opulent aesthetic of the mid-eighteenth century. Constructed around seventeen forty-one specifically to house the royal…

As we conclude our journey through the National Library's Richelieu site, stepping back out toward the vibrant streets of Paris, it is worth reflecting on the sheer magnitude of what this building represents. For over twelve…