The Globes of Louis XIV

from September 15, 2009

Thanks to the support of Natixis, the Bibliothèque nationale de France brings to the public the most amazing items of its collection. An original setting was chosen that highlights the splendid paintings adorning the magnificent spheres. Moreover, the exhibition replaces the Globes in their historical context, focusing on the history of progress in the fields of geographical sciences and world representation. A specific space is devoted to the incredible story of the spheres made for King Louis XIV and offers the possibility to admire representations of the universe today thanks to the Centre national d’études spatiales (CNES).

Thanks to the patronage of the Orange Foundation, an audio-tactile space was made available for visually impaired people.

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 €).