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Salle Ovale de la BnF Richelieu

Name: Salle Ovale de la BnF Richelieu
Rating: 4.7

4.7 ·

Step into the Salle Ovale, the newly restored reading room at the heart of Paris's historic Richelieu library. Sit beneath the glass-domed ceiling among students and visitors, taking in one of the city's most striking free architectural spaces.

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Reasons to go

The oval reading room reopened in 2022 after a major restoration of the historic Richelieu library site.
Its glass-domed ceiling and oval design make it free to enter and browse without a library card.
The space functions simultaneously as an active reading room and a public architectural sight.

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Full description

The Salle Ovale reopened to the public in 2022 as part of the restored Richelieu site of the Bibliothèque nationale de France, its elegant oval design and glass-domed ceiling making it one of the most beautiful free public spaces in Paris. It functions as both a working reading room and a striking architectural sight, popular with students and visitors alike.

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Address

5 Rue Vivienne, 75002 Paris, France · Bourse

Website

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Hours

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Booking

Walk-in

Duration

30 min

Best time

morning, lunchtime or afternoon

Intensity

Easy pace

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Good to know

It's free to enter and browse, no library card required for a visit
a great, quiet spot to sit and read or work for a while
combine with a look at the library's other historic rooms nearby.

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Reviews

A spontaneous date with a friend turned into one of my new favourite places for study. Any person coming or living in Paris should come here at least once just for the feeling. They have free podcasts and listening stations where you can listen to English and French short stories. A wonderful place for all thinkers.

Nadia K

1/5

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