France-Brazil
France-Brazil is a bilingual French-Portuguese digital library covering the history of Franco-Brazilian relations from the 16th to the 20th century.
The Projet
The result of cooperation between the BnF and the National Library of Brazil, it is part of the Shared Heritage collection, which documents relations between France and the rest of the world over the centuries. Through the presentation of documentary collections from the BnF, the National Library of Brazil and other partner institutions, this digital library immerses us in the heart of a singular history that bears witness to the movement of people, knowledge and ideas between France and Brazil.
The Parters
The history of the France-Brazil digital library began in 2009, during the Year of France in Brazil. The National Library of Brazil and the National Library of France decided to bring together, in a bilingual virtual space, a collection of documents detailing Franco-Brazilian relations from the attempts at colonisation during the Renaissance to the 20th century, in all their depth and complexity. With the support of the French Institute in Brazil, the two institutions jointly produced the collection La France au Brésil / A França no Brasil.
To celebrate ten years of this partnership, the two national libraries renewed their collaboration, resulting in a redesign and expansion of the site. In 2019, La France au Brésil / A França no Brasil became the France-Brazil digital library and was incorporated into the BnF’s Shared Heritage collection.
Since then, new partners have joined the project:
- The Bibliothèque Sainte-Geneviève
- Manioc, a digital library specialising in the Caribbean, the Amazon and the Guiana Shield
- Biblioteca Brasiliana Guita e José Mindlin - Universitária da Universidade de São Paulo
The documents available on the France-Brazil website come from these various institutions. Articles written by renowned scientists, curators at the BnF, academics and researchers provide context for these documents.
Les documents disponibles sur le site France-Brésil proviennent de ces différentes institutions. Des articles rédigés par des scientifiques reconnus, conservateurs de la BnF, universitaires et chercheurs, permettent de contextualiser ces documents.
France-Brazil Events
France Brazil Season
Celebrating the bicentenary of the diplomatic relations between the two countries, the France-Brazil Season 2025 successively showcases Brazil in France (from April to September), then France in Brazil (from August to December). The BnF is participating in both parts of this Season with a programme combining webinars, one-day seminars and concerts.
(Re)discover five centuries of Franco-Brazilian relations
In December 2023, to mark the fifth anniversary of the website’s redesign, a bilingual meeting was held to invite partners involved in this ambitious scientific project to share their perspectives.
Gallica
A comparative perspective between France and Brazil
Back in December 2020, a Gallica online workshop was dedicated to exploring the France-Brazil website and the collections featured on it.
Articles published on the Gallica Blog (in French)
- « Paris-Rio de Janeiro, connexions transatlantiques », 18 August 2025, Maud Lageiste
- « Au Havre, cap sur le Brésil », 3 Septembre 2024, Maud Lageiste
- « France-Brésil, histoires entremêlées », 15 Novembre 2023, Maud Lageiste
- « L’histoire singulière des relations franco-brésiliennes », 19 February 2019, Régine Piersanti
