Salle Ovale - BnF Richelieu

Overview

Located in the flawlessly restored historic site of the National Library of France (BnF Richelieu), the Salle Ovale is one of the most breathtaking, magnificent reading rooms in the world. Newly opened entirely to the public, it is a staggering temple to knowledge.

Highlights

• The Architecture: The impossibly elegant, perfectly oval room surrounded by five towering tiers of wooden bookshelves climbing up to a spectacular, soaring 18-metre-high glass roof.
• The Books: Over 20,000 volumes—from modern graphic novels to massive architectural folios—freely available for the public to pull off the shelves and read.
• The Details: The incredibly intricate mosaics, gilded arches, and the 16 massive painted oculi high above representing global cities.

History

Designed by architect Jean-Louis Pascal and inaugurated in 1932, the Salle Ovale originally functioned as the highly intimidating, strictly limited encyclopedic reading room. As part of a massive, 12-year billion-euro historic renovation finished in 2022, the National Library made the unprecedented decision to throw the doors of this architectural masterpiece open to everyone for free.

Visitor Tips

• Cost: Absolutely free to enter, with no library card required.
• Vibe: It is an active, heavily used library. Utter silence is required, making it an incredibly peaceful, deeply atmospheric place to rest or read.
• Photography: Photos are allowed, but you must silence your camera shutter and flash.