Bibliotheque Nationale

From Paris Hotels Reviews

Bibliotheque Nationale

The easternmost edge of the treiziéme, between the river and the Austerlitz train tracks, has been utterly transformed in recent years as part of the Paris Rive Gauche development (see p.190). the star architectural construction, which Mitterrand managed to inaugurate though not open just before his death in 1996, is the Bibliothéque Nationale de France , accessible from the métro station at Quai de la Gare or Bibliothéque-Francois Mitterrand, on the swanky new line 14 – which is worth visiting on its own account. There are regular exhibitions – typically serious, arty and high-quality – and the reading rooms on the "haut-jardin" level, along with their unrivalled collection of foreign newspapers, are open to everyone over 16 (Thurs – Sat 10am – 7pm, Sun 1-7pm; €3.30 for a day pass; ⓦwww.bnf.fr). The garden level, below, is reserved for accredited researchers only, while the garden itself is completely out of bounds.

The four enormous L-shaped towers at the corners of the site were intended to look like open books, but attracted wide spread derision after shutters had to be added behind the glazing in order to protect the collections from sunlight. Once you mount the dramatic wooden steps surrounding the library, however, the perspective changes utterly. Now you’re looking down into a huge sunken pine wood, with glass walls that filter light into the floors below your feet; it’s like standing at the edge of a secret ravine. The concept is startlingly original, and almost fulfills architect Dominique Perault’s intention to seek "a kind of sensibility capable of combining rigour and emotion, which will generate a sense of dignity, a well-tempered soul for the buildings of the French Republic". Cynics might find the steel stays added to stop the trees blowing over less than dignified, but it’s undoubtedly a fascinating structure.