OPENING HOURS, ACcESS & ADMISSION 

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Richelieu

General Information

The Richelieu Library is open from 9 AM to 8 PM every day except on Sundays. It hosts the BnF reading rooms (Department of Manuscripts; Prints and Photography; Coins, Medals and Antiques; Performing Arts; Music), the Library of the National Institute for Art History (INHA) and the Library of the École nationale des Chartes (ENC). A valid research pass is mandatory to access the reading rooms. 
The site is undergoing renovation but remains open to the public. Although especially designed for researchers on art history and heritage, it is also open to all for visits and cultural events. 
  • Wifi
  • Café

Site Richelieu

58, rue de Richelieu
75002 Paris
Phone : +33(0)1 53 79 59 59
 

Site Richelieu-Louvois (Music Department)

2, rue de Louvois
75002 Paris
Phone : +33(0)1 53 79 59 59

Bus

Lines 20, 29, 39, 48, 74, 85


Metro

Line 3 (Bourse), 1 & 7 (Palais-Royal-Musée du Louvre), 7 & 14 (Pyramides).

Opening hours 

  • Monday – Saturday: 9 AM-8 PM
  • Closed on Sundays 

Please note

The BnF is closed on bank holidays*
Annual closing (Paris sites: François-Mitterrand, Richelieu, Bibliothèque de l’Arsenal et Bibliothèque-musée de l’Opéra):
from Thursday, August 29, 2019 evening to Monday, September 9, 2019 in the morning.
*1 January, Easter Sunday and Monday, 1 and 8 May, Ascension Thursday, Pentecost Sunday and Monday, 15 August, 1 and 11 November, 25 December 

Accessibility 

Our visually impaired visitors can use a tactile paving from the readers’ entrance, located 58 rue de Richelieu. Three audio beacons will guid them to the visitors’ desk located in the hall. There is also an access ramp for people with reduced mobility. 

During the ongoing works on site, visitors in wheelchairs may have difficulties to access the Coins, Medals and Antiques reading room. Visitors can ask on-site agents to help them use the staff elevator situated nearby the Coins, Medals and Antiques room entrance.

Please note:

Wheelchairs are available on demand at the cloakrooms. You will need to deposit a valid piece of identification at the visitors’ desk.
 
See all opening hours

Research Library

The reading rooms are part of the BnF Research Library. Access is granted upon presentation of justificatory documents on your research. Your inscription is valid for both Bnf and INHA. It gives you access to all specialized departments at the BnF as well as to the INHA Library (Labrouste Room). You are also allowed in all reading rooms located on other BnF sites (François-Mitterrand, Arsenal, Opéra). Passes can be purchased online (see below).  

Please note: during the renovation, the Prints and Photography Department (BnF) is located in the Labrouste Room. 

Research Library 

Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday
10AM
-
6PM		 10AM
-
6PM		 10AM
-
6PM		 10AM
-
6PM		 10AM
-
6PM		 10AM
-
6PM		  

Inscription

Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday
9AM
-
5PM		 9AM
-
5PM		 9AM
-
5PM		 9AM
-
5PM		 9AM
-
5PM		 10AM-
12:30PM
–
1:30PM-
5PM		  

INHA Library 

Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday
9AM
-
7:30PM		 9AM
-
7:30PM		 9AM
-
7:30PM		 9AM
-
7:30PM		 9AM
-
7:30PM		 9AM
-
6:30PM		  

Reduced fees in July and August. The library closes every day at 6:30 PM during that period.

Prints and photography “Réserve” :

Tuesdays to Thursdays, from 10 AM to 1 PM

Guided tours of Richelieu site (in french):

Guided tours (1h30) with BnF staff : certain Thursdays at 9.30 AM & Saturdays at 5.30 PM (no access to the salle Labrouste on the Thursdays tours).

Mandatory booking at (+33) 153794949

Day Research pass

5 €

5-Day Research pass (consecutive or not)

20 €

Unlimited research pass

This pass additionally grants you free access to the Research Library and the General Library reading rooms, exhibitions, and events at the BnF. 

Valid for 1 year.

50 €research pass

Reduced fare

35 €

 

Please note:
Access is free for holders of an INHA pass or members of the ‘Société des Amis de la Bibliothèque d’Art et d’archéologie (SABAA).

Collection Subjects - Reading Rooms

Please note: The Department of Maps and Plans is located in room R (Research Library – Garden level) of the François Mitterrand site until the reopening of the second renovated zone of the Richelieu Library (planned for 2020). 

Collections can be consulted on Monday from 2 PM to 6 PM, from Tuesday to Friday from 10 PM to 6 PM and Saturday from 10 AM to 5 PM. 

Book my seat See other research libraries

Viewing the documents

To access the reading room of the Richelieu Library, you must be holding a pass. It can be delivered to you on site. If you want to access other research Library sites (François-Mitterrand, Richelieu, Arsenal), you must carry a Research Pass. This pass is available online or at the François-Mitterrand and Richelieu libraries.

Before purchasing a pass

You can prepare your visit by consulting our online catalogue or using our Ask a Librarian SINDBAD service by phone or email. 

Access and admission prices

  • You have to be over 18 years old. 
  • You need to show proof that you are conducting academic, professional or personal research work.  

The consultation  of Heritage collections is chiefly meant for extended, long-term research. It can also respond to short-term research, especially in case of not being able to find a document in other libraries. 

Master and postgraduate students, higher education teachers and researchers may register directly online or on-site at the Inscription desk. They will need to provide proof of research upon retrieving their pass. 

BA level students or any person with a personnal or professional research project may get a Research Pass upon presentation of justificatory documents during an interview with the Inscription Service at the François-Mitterrand or Richelieu libraries. 

Attention! The inscription Service closes at 7 pm. No Pass can be delivered past this time.

 
How to get a Research pass

Passes

  • Day Research Pass
  • 5 Day Research Pass (consecutive or not) 
These two passes grant you free circulation during your day in all reading rooms of the Research Library as well as on all our sites. 
  • Unlimited Research Pass
This pass additionally grants you free access to the Library upper garden reading rooms, exhibitions and events at the BnF. 
The three passes are valid for one year from their delivery date. They are strictly personal.

Please note

If your reading pass gets lost or stolen, the reader’s responsibility will be lifted only after a written declaration addressed to the Bibliothèque nationale de France.
Cost of a lost, stolen (without proof of theft report) or forgotten pass: 2€
Pass replacement is free if the pass is malfunctioning or if it was stolen (upon proof of theft report). 
Personal data collected during pass creation are kept by the BnF. For all access, modification or deletion requests, you can contact our data protection correspondent. 

Prices

Consult PRICES

 

Making your visiting experience easy

Cloakroom

You can leave your personal belongings in the cloakroom before your visit (within storage capacity), except valuable and large items.

Please note

Cloakrooms work with 1 or 2 euro coins or with tokens available at the General Information desk. 

Under Plan Vigipirate at ‘Heightened Security/Risk of Attack’ level, security and controls near the Library entrance have been strengthened. Only cabin luggage (55cm × 35cm × 25cm) are accepted inside the BnF. 

Consequently, access can take a little longer than normal. We thank you for your understanding. 

Mandatory deposits 

To make your visiting experience easier, some items must be checked at the cloakrooms: 
  • Motorbike helmets 
  • Umbrellas and walking sticks 
  • Backpacks and small luggage 
  • Sharp and harmful objects  
  • Cardboard portfolios 
Please note: Some collections are submitted to specific rules. 

Get to know us

If you want to get to know the Library and navigate the spaces or know which offer is better suited to you, we offer a bespoke service for everyone including non-ticket holders. You can access the service:
  • By making an appointment online (in French) and selecting a 30-minute slot.
  • Directly on site from 10 AM to 1 PM, Tuesday to Friday (Inscription Service).  

 

[In French] Règlement des espaces ouverts au public