National Assembly library open to the general public: reservations now open

Until now, access to the National Assembly library has been restricted to members of parliament and researchers. But that's about to change. As revealed by BFMTV Paris, the library of this French institution is now open to the general public !

After major restoration work lasting around a year, the Assemblée Nationale library is due to be inaugurated on Wednesday April 9. Then, from April 14, 2025, lovers of heritage libraries, historic sites and the arts, as well as the curious, will be able to stroll through this veritable jewel, created in 1796, and located in the annex of the Palais Bourbon. Yaël Braun-Pivet, the institution's current president, is keen to open it up to the general public.

Nicknamed " The Sistine Chapel ", the library of the French National Assembly boasts five magnificent domes by the famous Romantic painter Eugène Delacroix. All of them can be admired from the ceiling of the building, 15 meters high.

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But this fascinating library is also home to an impressive collection of nearly 700,000 volumes in French, mainly in law, political science, history, economics and social sciences, as well as an ancient collection of around 1,900 manuscripts, 80 incunabula and numerous rare and original editions.

A majestic and rare place that visitors will be able to discover outside of Heritage Days, during tours available from April 14. More good news: access is free, but reservations are required.

So don't delay, reserve your slot now. Please note that"special tours" are currently available for the period April 14 to 26, 2025. These will enable visitors to discover the restored Library in its entirety. For those who wish, it will also be possible to see the entire Palais Bourbon (Galerie des Fêtes, salons, hemicycle, etc.) when the National Assembly is not in session, as well as the entrance salons and hemicycle, with the opportunity to attend debates here when the Assembly is in session.