Bibliothèque national François Mitterand

Bibliothèque nationale de France - site François Mitterrand

Overlooking the Seine, the BnF has become an emblem of the futurist Paris emerging in the east of the capital. If its architecture is worth a detour, it’s also worth checking out the rigorous exhibition programme.

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  4. Bibliothèque nationale de France - site François Mitterrand


Description

Opened to the public in 1996, the François-Mitterrand site grew out of the need to enlarge and modernise the Bibliothèque Nationale, the national library. Architect Dominique Perrault’s design embraces a minimalist aesthetic. Its tall, angular towers symbolise four open books. The reading rooms, which are accessible to the public, enclose a forest garden of more than a hectare.

In the West Hall don’t miss the twin globes of the earth and the heavens made for Louis XIV: 4m in diameter, these are the most spectacular objects in the BnF collections. The “Hall des Globes” places them at the centre of an original scenography that not only does justice to the splendour of the paintings that decorate them, but also situates these works in the history of progress in the science of map-making and of depicting the world.

Finally, the BnF also offers an excellent programme of temporary exhibitions, which explore a wide spectrum of themes and includes photography, prints and contemporary art.

Once there, it’s hard to resist extending the visit with a walk along the banks of the Seine, which has a particularly festive atmosphere in summer. Or take the Simone de Beauvoir footbridge to cross the river to the Parc de Bercy or the Cinémathèque Française.

Discover also the BnF I Richelieu, the historical birthplace of the national library. An eighteenth century architectural heritage and a unique cultural offer to be discovered just a few steps away from the Louvre Museum and the Comédie-Française.

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Community facilities

Access and contact

Quai François-Mauriac
75013 Paris 13ème

Metro: line 6 : Quai de la Gare
Metro and RER Line 14 and RER C : Bibliothèque François Mitterrand
Bus : 25, 62, 64,71, 89, 132 and 325

Days and opening hours

Every day throughout the year between 10 AM and 7 PM. Closed on monday. Closed exceptionally on bank holidays.

Prices

  • Full price: 10 € Reduced price: 8 € Set price group adults: from 45 € (From 45€ (adult and children groups)).
    Free entry for disabled people and accompanying persons.
    Unlimited annual passes - Reading/Culture Pass: €15.

Facility

  • Book shop
  • Lift

Services

  • Shop
  • Wi-fi
  • Restaurant
  • Fast food

Activities

  • Temporary exhibition
  • Concert

Tour

Spoken languages

  • German
  • English
  • French

Guided tour languages

  • French

Documentation languages (home)

  • Italian
  • German
  • English
  • Spanish
  • French

Bulletin board languages

  • French

Single mean time tour

75 mins

Single services tour

  • Unguided individual tours available permanently
  • Guided individual tours on request
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Accessibility

See on accessible.net

Access

Pratical informations

Extérieur
  • access to the establishment: graspable outside call button
  • floor-level pathways
  • pathways that change levels are offset by a sloping surface
Parking
  • adapted access control to the car park
  • reserved and adapted parking space located close to the entrance of the site
  • parking spaces laid out and connected to the road or building by an accessible pathway
Accueil
  • reception desk easily identifiable and accessible
  • free admission for one accompanying person
  • free admission on presentation of proof of entitlement
  • the accessible entrance is the main entrance
  • the accessible entrance is the secondary entrance (indicated)
  • staff informed or trained
  • specific tariff policy
  • revolving entrance door
  • automatic entrance door
  • manual entrance door
Information
  • accessible information plates
  • all documentation graspable
  • performance room with a reserved space
Vestiaire
  • accessible cloakroom
Équipements
  • multimedia content access system
  • spaces equipped with reserved spaces and adapted to people in wheelchairs
  • floor-level establishment
  • wheelchair loan
  • seated area available
  • seated areas available (several spread out across the entire site)
Sanitaires
  • présence d’un lave main dans les sanitaires adaptés
  • accessible communal toilets
  • toilets: transfer direction onto the toilet seat to the right
  • toilets: transfer direction onto the toilet seat to the left
Escalier
  • Communal staircase adapted for secure movement
Ascenseur
  • adapted elevator
  • elevator
Parking
  • visual intercom
  • adapted access control to the car park
Accueil
  • acceo: instant speech transcription and visio-interpretation in French sign language (LSF)
  • reception/information desk equipped with a hearing assistance system with a magnetic loop
  • reservation/contact via SMS and/or email
  • reservation possible by webcam
Information
  • staff trained in French sign language (LSF)
Signalétique
  • uniform signage to help people find their way around
  • text/image signage
Équipements
  • performance or tour assistance aids
  • visual alarm with flashing light in isolated spaces
  • intercom equipped with a hearing assistance system with a magnetic loop
  • audiovisuals are in French sign language (LSF)
  • subtitled audiovisuals
  • performance equipped with a sound transmission or amplifying system
Ascenseur
  • adapted elevator
Visite
  • independent visit possible
  • guided tour in French sign language (LSF)
  • guided tour in international sign language (ISL)
  • guided tours with lip reading
  • guided tours with an amplifying device
  • guided tours with a magnetic loop device
Extérieur
  • exterior pathways identifiable by touch
  • exterior pathways visually identifiable
  • exterior lighting control system in communal areas
Accueil
  • interior pathways identifiable by touch
  • interior pathways visually identifiable
Équipements
  • Braille documentation
  • documentation in enlarged characters
  • swell paper documentation
  • floor-level establishment
  • offset or no obstacles at face height
  • navigation assistance tool (e.g. map/model - in relief/large characters/contrasting colours)
  • possibility to record conversations and transfer elements onto a tool on loan (mp3, dictaphone)
  • possibility to control the lighting
  • magnifying glass loan
  • glass surfaces identifiable via contrasted elements in relation to the immediate surroundings
  • audiodescription system
Ascenseur
  • elevator with audio announcements for each floor
  • elevator with identifiable call buttons
Visite
  • Legible information plates
  • specific accessible information plates
  • tactile tour
Extérieur
  • the dangers identified have been addressed
Information
  • brochures/documentations classified by topic
  • simplified adapted documentation (illustration through images, photos, drawings)
Signalétique
  • adapted signage
Visite
  • adapted activities
  • educational workshops
  • specific supervision
  • adapted room cards
  • specific tours
Extérieur
  • floor-level pathways
Accueil
  • adapted opening hours (morning performances)
  • childcare service
  • family tariffs/free admission for children
Information
  • secure and closed establishment
Vestiaire
  • large lockers or left luggage lockers for pushchairs
  • possibility to leave pushchairs at the cloakroom
Équipements
  • floor-level establishment
  • baby carrier loan
  • pushchair loan
Sanitaires
  • toilet facilities suitable for children (toilet seat and washbasin height)
  • changing table
Visite
  • children's/family applications for the tour
  • children's visit booklets/games
  • pushchairs accepted for the tour
Extérieur
  • floor-level pathways
Accueil
  • pets accepted on site and during guided tours
  • reception desk easily identifiable and accessible
  • reception/information desk equipped with a sound amplification system
Vestiaire
  • cloakroom
Équipements
  • floor-level establishment
  • wheelchair loan
  • magnifying glass loan
  • cane wheelchair loan
  • seated areas available (several spread out across the entire site)
Sanitaires
  • diagonal support rail to enable the seated person to raise themselves up easily
Escalier
  • communal staircase adapted for secure movement
  • private staircase adapted for secure movement
Ascenseur
  • stairs compensated for by a lift or an elevator
Visite
  • Legible information plates
  • Specific accessible information plates (large characters)

Quai François-Mauriac
75013 Paris 13ème

  • Copyright image:
  • David Paul Carr / BnF