The Globes of Louis XIV

from September 15, 2009

Thanks to the generous support of Natixis, the Bibliothèque nationale de France presents the most spectacular items of its collection. An original setting has been  chosen to enhance the beauty of the paintings adorning the spheres. Furthermore, the exhibition sets the Globes in their historical context, with a focus on the progress made in geographical sciences and world representation. A specific area is dedicated to the incredible story of the spheres that were made made for King Louis XIV. In addition, the Centre national d’études spatiales (CNES) has made it possible to admire representations of the universe today .

Thanks to the patronage of the Orange Foundation, an audio-tactile area is available to the visually impaired.

Free access:

• From Tuesday to Saturday (10 a.m. - 7 p.m.)
• Sunday from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. (closed on Mondays and public holidays)

Visits:

• For individuals: a free presentation of the Globes is offered Tuesday through Saturday, at 3.30 p.m.
  No reservation is required. On Sundays, the presentation is included in the tour of the building.

Educational activities:

• For school groups, a presentation of the Globes is included:
  • in the educational visits of the library organised on Tuesdays and Thursdays, from 2 p.m. to 3.30 p.m. for schoolchildren aged 9 to 11 (46 €);
  • in the introductory workshops on heritage collections, on Tuesdays and Thursdays, from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. for learners aged 11 to 15 (92 €).