If there's one library in Paris that you absolutely must visit on a weekend or during your vacation in the French capital, it's the Bibliothèque Sainte-Geneviève (BSG for its French acronym), located in the Latin Quarter.
Listed as a historical monument, the BSG is best known for its Salle Labrouste, designed by the eponymous architect and featuring immense ceilings. Opened in 1851 (at a time when gas lighting and heating were still the norm), it was the first public building to be used exclusively as a library: then and now, the library is free and open to all.
These include important religious holdings, since the Abbey of Sainte-Geneviève donated its collections to the BSG, as well as the largest Scandinavian holdings in the world (after the countries concerned).
The origins of this library go back to ancient times, when Clovis built theAbbey of Sainte-Geneviève-de-Paris in the 6th century. Remember, we told you about this abbey and its church, the Eglise Sainte-Geneviève, in our article on the history of theEglise Saint-Etienne-du-Mont! In the 13th century, the Bibliothèque Sainte-Geneviève was built on the top floor of the abbey, along with a copyist's workshop. But the Hundred Years' War and the Wars of Religion put the brakes on its development.
It wasn't until the 17th century that the BSG grew to include 600 books, under the impetus of Cardinal de La Rouchefoucauld. The library's catalog was subsequently expanded by several major donors. By 1687, there were 20,000 items, including 400 manuscripts and thousands of prints.
In the 18th century, the Bibliothèque Sainte-Geneviève was no longer reserved solely for the elite and for archiving: it opened its doors to the public. During the Napoleonic Wars, the building welcomed no fewer than 20,000 new items and works confiscated from the enemy, making it a library of national importance. But that's a lot of books! So much so that the library had to move from the top floor of the abbey, now the Lycée Henri IV, to a new location.
Henri Labrouste designed the new library on the site of the former Collège de Montaigu. Construction lasted from 1844 to 1851, and the Bibliothèque Sainte-Geneviève became the first library in France not to be attached to a palace, abbey or school. Labrouste turned the building into a fine example of the neo-Gothic style. Its exterior is unadorned, but once you step through the door, you discover the beautiful black-and-white marble floor of the vestibule and, above all, a majestic reading room on the second floor.
Designed on the plan of a basilica, this brightly lit reading room boasts an astonishing iron structure and finely chiselled cast-iron columns. This is still the place where students from neighboring universities gather to study in peace and quiet, or to consult the library's 2 million documents.
To sum up, here are the services offered on site:
If you're no longer a student, you can visit the Bibliothèque Sainte-Geneviève free of charge during guided tours on Wednesday, Saturday or Tuesday mornings. Reservations are required and places are limited, but it's well worth it to discover the library this way!
The Sainte-Geneviève library is open Monday to Saturday, from 10am to 10pm, as well as on certain Sundays. Please note, however, that the library quickly reaches capacity, so be sure to check the Affluences platform to see if it's possible to get in!
Please note that it's been over 4 years since our last visit, so the place and experience may have changed.
Dates and Opening Time
Starts November 21, 2024
Location
Sainte-Geneviève Library
10 Place du Panthéon
75005 Paris 5
Prices
Free
