Bibliothèque nationale de France (BnF) | Richelieu

This is possibly one of the best places to visit in Paris and one so easy to miss. The Oval Room Library and the Entrance Library are free to visit. So if you only want to see these 2 places it will be at zero cost. Nevertheless, I strongly advise you to also visit the upper floor permanent exhibition as you will be amazed by the decor of the rooms too.

Even if you’re illiterate you could still enjoy the stunning beauty and almost reverential quiet inside the Salle Ovale, or the oval reading room of the BNF. It’s free and you’ll encounter fellow lovers of books, architecture, culture, humanity and what have you. It doesn’t have to be a rainy or hot day to escape inside this wondrous room, peruse the shelves books and find a comfortable cushioned seat or chair to read or work on the dozens of computers available for use. There are also special computers for audio visual viewing of the BNF historical art database.

"Bibliothèque nationale de France (BnF) is an architectural marvel! The blend of historical charm at Richelieu and modern elegance at François-Mitterrand is incredible. The vast collections and beautiful spaces make it a paradise for book lovers and history enthusiasts alike. Highly recommend visiting!"

One of the most underrated sights in Paris. The Oval Room is one of the most impressive rooms you will ever be in. The silence is deafening and the architecture is amazing. What’s more amazing are the books on display. Photo books of every kind and every topic - so easy to spend hours pouring over a topic you love. Come visit - but respect the silence. No tickets required

One of the most beautiful buildings in Paris that you can visit for free! The Richelieu National Library actually houses multiple libraries and archives, but the Oval room is the most beautiful, where you can browse an immense collection of comic books and mangas, as well as « coffee table books » while sitting in comfy chairs and admiring the architecture of the room. For students, you can also claim a seat at a workstation, although you should aim to arrive 5-10 minutes before it opens (10am) to get in line to claim a free spot.

Security at the gate to enter, free entry to go inside, this bibliotheque is amazing, the ceiling is awesome and the architecture is superb, very underrated. Remember it's a library, sshhh. Quiet please!!!

The library is amazingly beautiful! It’s a perfect place to read or just only visit the place and relax. I didn’t visit the whole site or the museum but I like the oval room very much. The reading room is free and open to public.

Definitely worth a visit if you are into reading or have enough time while visiting Paris. The access to this room is free. Good collection as well.

Wow!! Just reopened after a renovation this is a true gem. Free entry to public spaces on the ground floor and paid entrance to a small museum on the second floor, which is definitely worth checking out. I could easily spend the entire day, exploring museum and the reading room on the ground floor despite not knowing French too well. They have some amazing treasures upstairs and lots of spaces to sit and read in the main reading room as well as to charge cell phones if needed

Absolutely beautiful library with a marvelous and stunning reading room, all absolutely open to the public. Granted, due to the popularity, seats in the reading room can be reserved in advance and if you plan to do some serious studying there, you should probably "book" a seat. There's exhibitions as well though for some special ones you may have to pay a small fee. Nice gardens too.

This is one of the most beautiful libraries in the world that you can't get in to. You must be approved for studying there according to the lady at the front desk. You can literally take two steps in and take a picture before you are ushered out. Such a disappointment.

First First First...This city is sooooo easy...but I digress... I went to the Bibliotheque National de France for a photo exhibition of Raymond Depardon wherein he has spent like 20 years photographing the changes in the common places around France. Sort of like if one were to travel around the US to the small towns and countryside and photograph the changes of rural America - same principal. I did not find the Depardon exhibit (but I'll look tomorrow). Instead I found the permanent exhibit of the library that includes works or art from the photographic frontier. The exact exhibit is: The origins of photography - Calotype photography in France (1843-1860). This was the infancy of more wide-spread photographic process brought on by the invention of the daguerreotype. There are images from the likes of Henri Courmont, Charles Nègre, Delacroix, Hugo and Adalbert Cuvelier. Most of these names are even now difficult to research via Google, but it is so interesting to see all of the "peers" of this new medium and the evolution of their craft in its infancy. The landscapes are all baron because of the over 1 minute exposure time (moving people do not "appear"). And, the images are often blurry because of this and the quality of the lenses and equipment. Even so, it is possible to see great art in these images - so fascinating. So I'm looking around after the exhibit and I see a doorway - actually 4 doorways with portals into the next room. On these doors is a "not photographs" sign." I peer in to find the main study hall of the National Library of France itself. I did not take a picture, but the view was stunning. Imagine: a 7 story circular room about 100 meters in diameter. The first 4 stories are each ringed with books - 4 stories of circular books with a walkway around each one!!! At the top of the dome is a giant skylight of frosted glass and iron (its ancient). Then the floor is covered with rows of desks and about every 5 feet there is a tall brass lamp with a green glass shade - it was simply stunning. I am confident that this is not the main feature of many guide books. So here is my secret hint to you - go there.