The BnF

Manuscripts Department

The Manuscripts department has its origins in the Royal Library. It houses the greatest collection worldwide of medieval, modern and contemporary manuscripts. It also includes numerous old copies, unica, scientific texts, ornamented and painted manuscripts. These encyclopaedic collections - chansons de geste, Eastern and Western religions, modern and contemporary history, literary manuscripts... - were enriched thanks to donations from authors, politicians or academics, sponsorship or acquisitions.
The collections of original manuscripts are complemented by books and magazines in foreign languages, microforms and fac-similes. The reading room is open to the readers of the Research Library. Certain manuscripts are available on special authorization.

Collections
Catalogs
Practical information

Manuscripts Department:Practical information

Address
Opening hours
Consulting documents

Address

Richelieu Library
58, rue de Richelieu
75002 Paris

For more info

Address and transports - Richelieu-Louvois Library

Opening hours

Reading room opening hours
From Monday to Saturday	Sunday
10.00am-6.00pm	closed

Closed on public holidays:

31 december and 1st of January
Easter Sunday and Monday
1 and 8 May
Ascension Thursday
Pentecost Sunday and Monday
14 July
15 August
1 and 11 November
24 and 25 December

Annual closing of the BnF sites located in Paris (François-Mitterrand, Richelieu and Louvois, Arsenal and Opéra Libraries): During the annual closing of the BnF, various operations are achieved on the BnF premises and public spaces: repair, maintenance or cleaning work. It will take place from Friday, August 31st to Sunday, September 9th, 2018 inclusive.

Consulting documents

Requests collection and document release times
	Monday toSaturday
Requests collection	10:30, 11:30, 14:00, 15:30
Document release except for the Reserve	10:00 - 18:00

Average release length: 45 minutes after the requests collection.

An item requested after 15:30 will be delivered the day after.