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 research rooms (Department of Manuscripts, Prints & Photography, Coins, Medals and Antiques, Performing Arts and 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 research rooms. 
The site is undergoing renovation but remains open to the public. Although destined to art history and heritage researchers, it is open to all for visits and cultural events. 

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 help them to the visitors’ desk located in the hall. The device completes the access ramp for people with reduced mobility. 

During the ongoing works on site, visitors in wheelchairs may have difficulty 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.
 

Research Library

The research rooms are part of the BnF Research Library. Accreditation is granted upon presentation of research documentary evidence. Your accreditation is valid for both Bnf and INHA. It gives you access to all specialized departments at BnF as well as to the INHA Library (Labrouste Room). You are also allowed in all research 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		  

Accreditation

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 photograh “Réserve” :

Tuesdays to Thursdays, from 10 AM to 1 PM

Guided tours of Richelieu site (in french):

Guided tours (1h30) with BnF staff : Thursdays at 3.30 pm & 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 Arsenal Library, you must be carrying 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 SINDBAD service by chat, 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.  
Heritage collections consultation 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 will be automatically registered. They will need to provide proof of research upon retrieving their 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. 

Reduced prices and exemptions (Prices)

Consult PRICES

Getting accredited

On the Richelieu and François Mitterrand sites, a personalized interview will be conducted by a librarian at the Accreditation service to assess the needs of each reader, and determine their accreditation and its duration (1 Day, 5 Day, Unlimited). The pass will then be given to the reader. 
 

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 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 online appointment and selecting a 30-minute slot. Appointments can be made from 10 AM to 1 PM Tuesday to Friday (Accreditation Space).  
  • Directly on site