#The National Library Of France

The library with 40 million works of 3 centuries in France

There are more than 16,000 public libraries in France. The National Library (BnF) in the central capital, Paris, stands out as the largest library with the largest collection in France with 40 million works. There are books, posters, manuscripts, medallions, works of art and historical artifacts in the National Library, which consists of a total of five facilities, four of which are in the Paris region. The "Prisse Papyrus" of Egyptian origin, which is described as the oldest book in the world, is among the important works of the library. The papyrus is estimated to date back to about 1800 BC. The "Prisse Papyrus" of Egyptian origin, which is described as the oldest book in the world, is among the important works of the library. The papyrus in question is estimated to date back to about 1800 BC. On the other hand, in Gallica, the digital library of BnF, millions of books, newspapers, magazines, manuscripts, letters, cartoons, photographs, maps, audio and video recordings can be accessed online. Richelieu facility The history of the National Library of France began in the 18th century with the transfer of the Royal Library to the Richelieu facility in the central 2nd district of Paris. The BnF, which became the "nation's" library after the French Revolution that began in 1789, took its current name in 1994. The Richelieu facility has expanded over the centuries and spread over an area of 58 thousand square meters. Finally, after 12 years of renovation and modernization, the facility was opened to the public in September 2022. The cost of the studies was 261.3 million euros. Richelieu complex also includes a museum displaying 900 artifacts from different eras since antiquity, and a 1900 square meter garden. "Oval Room" whose architecture is reflected in its name Among the most striking parts of the renovated historical facility is the Oval Room. Oval Room has more than 20 thousand works, 9 thousand of which are comics. On the other hand, the Francois Mitterrand facility, which constitutes the "modern" facility of the BnF, was built on the instructions of the former President of France, François Mitterand, after whom it is named. The project of the modern facility near the Seine River in the south of Paris was completed in 1988-1998. The facility consists of 4 glass towers with 22 floors, 80 meters high, with shelf lengths reaching 400 kilometers. The square towers of the François Mitterrand facility, the work of French architect Dominique Perrault, represent 4 open books. The facility also hosts a 1 hectare garden.