(Last Update: 10.09.2024) IMPORTANT NOTE: Magnificent library in Paris Bibliothèque Nationale de France – Part of the Richelieu Building of the French National Library was recently converted into a museum. A part of the building, which was not open to everyone in the past, can be visited as a museum, but I have not had the chance to visit the museum yet and since this information is very new, there is no detailed information on the internet yet. That's why I kindly request you to get the updated information from the official website at the end of the article.. For now, I will keep this article as it is, and I will update the content after visiting the museum or sharing more information about it. The photos will give you an idea of what kind of place this place is, at least for now. Whether you read the article below, which is currently out of date, is entirely up to your choice. Thanks.
This place is in the heart of Paris, World War II. boroughin , where I have taken you around a lot before, Palais RoyalJust north of , three of Paris' most beautiful arcades (Choiseul Passage, Colbert Passage, Vivienne Passage) is a magnificent treasure on the Rue des Petits Champs, lined up in rows.
This building, known as Bibliothèque Nationale de France – Site Richelieu in French, is the most prestigious place of the French National Libraries. Since I first saw the photos of those magnificent reading rooms, I have wanted to visit this place, but I never had the chance. In fact, when I searched for the location of the library on the internet and found it, I couldn't believe the information I got, because I couldn't be convinced that that magnificent hall was in this building that I often passed by :)
When viewed from the outside to a nondescript Parisian building I didn't expect that the Richelieu Building of the National Library of France, which looks similar to other buildings, could offer such a rich architectural, historical and cultural feast. If I say ordinary, I mean it for Parisian conditions, otherwise the building is of course an extremely special building with its red bricks and stone workmanship, but it is not possible to notice the magnificence we are used to seeing from the outside.
French librarianship, whose foundations date back to the 15th century After going through many stages throughout history It started to serve in this building since 1720.. Before royal library With the French Revolution, the building turned into a republic library as "public property".
Of course, the part that interested me the most was seeing the magnificent reading room you see in the cover photo with the world's eyes. Unfortunately, the Richelieu Building of the National Library of France is not a place you can just enter. Just here You can enter to do special research after passing through special interviews and becoming a member. or good news: Once a year Journées du Patrimoine – Cultural Heritage Days It is also possible to tour within the scope.
I had the chance to visit the Richelieu Building of the French National Library twice. The first one was in September 2015, the second one was in 2019. Journées du Patrimoine – Cultural Heritage Days It was possible within the scope of the activities. I consider myself lucky that I had the opportunity to see the Oval Hall on my first visit and the other large hall on my second visit.
One feels as if one could spend a lifetime in this magnificent reading room, which is 45 meters long, 34 meters wide and 18 meters high. The books surrounding you, the light coming from the round windows of the oval ceiling, the characteristic green glass-headed reading lamps of French libraries, and the smell of books and history in the environment take you to other lands.
The only sad part is, as I said above, the National Library of France is in the Richelieu Building. anyone You can't come to read books as a child. Definitely You need to pass an interview and get a 3-day, 10-day or annual membership, depending on the subject of your research. because of You cannot enter without being a member.. That's why it's a great chance for all of us to tour this building in this way and for you to accompany me on this tour. But if you want to be one of the lucky people who can become a member and do research here, then you can get information from the link at the end of the article.
I said, "I wonder where that oval hall fits into this building?" While I was thinking, I realized that there were many more halls to visit in the library complex. Labrouste room The other large reading hall, also known as the Oval Hall, is at least as impressive as my favorite Oval Hall.
I must say that when I climbed the stairs to the upper floor and entered the red living room, I was struck by the ceiling decorations. Later I realized that the walls were actually covered with red fabric, but today they are covered with red panels for protection. On the shelves in this hall are Turkish "Mevlana Museum Manuscripts CatalogI was so pleased to come across the 4 volumes of “.
The meeting room, which you will pass through the red hall, is small but equally impressive. You can feel like you are in Yıldız Palace with its decoration embroidered with gold leaf on white. During the ten years I lived in Paris, I came to understand better the influence on which the understanding of architecture and decoration in the last period of the Ottoman Empire developed. From now on, I examine the Ottoman period buildings in Istanbul with a different perspective.
Another hall is the section with historical maps. Many interesting maps are presented to visitors here. Examples of maps brought to this hall for those who would normally stop at the warehouses and do research. Journées du Patrimoine – Cultural Heritage Days It is exhibited to be shown to visitors. Luckily for us, we had maps of the Far East on one visit, and on the next Mozart's manuscript scoreWe had the chance to see it. And how much more, what original works are there in this library...
To admit, like many Turkish students, I did not have the habit of going to the library. Although, as a child, I loved getting into the "mobile library bus" that came to Koşuyolu and choosing books for myself in the magical light of the interior, but other than that, I don't remember making a special effort to go to the library and do research. In our country, unfortunately, term papers were done by looking at the encyclopedias at home; However, in France, going to the library is a part of life for students.
I realize now, while writing this article, that I had to wait until my university days to step into the library. I have gone to the Atatürk Library in Taksim and done research a few times, and I have also spent a lot of time sitting and working at the Istanbul University Faculty of Letters Library; I also remember going to the National Library while I was in Ankara for my master's degree, but to confess, even though I am someone who loves reading so much, libraries have never been a part of my life and I think this is the case for most of us. This is why we may be losing…
Anyway, one of the things that impressed me the most in the maps section was the sky globe at the end of the hall. It is a very pleasant feeling to encounter here a highly aesthetic sphere of star clusters, which are actually named according to the shapes evoked by the arrangement of stars in the sky, which has changed meaning due to the populism of astrology today.
Just like that, we have come to the end of our tour of the Richelieu Building of the National Library of France. Although there were many more halls to visit, the library is under restoration work that will take several years, so you cannot see every place every time you go. I prepared the video below from the images I collected during my two trips. Once the restoration work is completed, a part of the library will be opened as a museum.; Then, of course, I will update this article and photos when I go.
Today, this library contains a collection of manuscripts, maps, coins, medallions and photographs from many countries. an extremely rich treasure is available. For this reason, in addition to being the most important library in France, it is also among the most special libraries in the world. In 1995, it was 13th. boroughfamous in François Mitterand National Library of FranceWith the opening of , the main archive was moved there, and works of great historical value continue to be stored here.
As I said, if you do not have a membership right to do research or if you do not have the chance to visit the Richelieu Building of the National Library of France once a year, you will most likely pass through the doors of this building, but now you know what kind of treasure lies inside. Moreover, on your way Choiseul Passage, Colbert Passage ve Vivienne Passage You are aware that you need to visit beautiful places such as. Of course, there is the Square of Victories – Place des Victoires right nearby. just south of you Palais Royaland to your northwest Opera GarnierI haven't even counted yet...
Paris is a cultural and historical festival. Wishing you to live to the fullest.
Pleasant trips, pleasant discoveries…
Web address: bnf.fr
2 Comments
Hello Ahmet,
My wife and I moved to Paris a week ago. I just started reading your blog posts, as far as I can see, unlike many other sharers, you write a blog that contains seriously useful information and makes life easier. I wanted to thank you for your efforts.
I wish you healthy days.
Hello,
First of all, welcome.
I hope you have a great time in Paris.
Thank you also for your valuable comment.
I wish you all the best.
Greetings, love.