National Library of France travel tips and stories. Vacations ideas, cruises, spa and resorts

There is something that generally lacks in the traditional guidebooks of France and this is where to have a good nap in Paris. Bibliotheque Nationale de France (National Library of France) is one of the big architectural projects planned under Francois Mitterrand’s presidency. Made of four high buildings in shape of open books, with a conifer garden in the centre of this rectangle, the spaces open to the public are at haut-de-jardin level (first level below ground floor).

My advice is to go there not for books consultation, because you’d have to pay an admission fee, the rooms are very dark.. However the corridors all around the garden are freely accessible, with a nice view on this “urban forest”, and above all equipped with very comfortable chairs, ideal for reading a book, using your laptop, chatting, and of course enjoying a well deserved nap!

The library also housed a bookstore and a cafeteria, and free exhibitions about literature, comics or press are often displayed in the corridors (mostly in French), including the impressive Coronelli globes.  The library reveals specific aspects of French cultural heritage and offer a unique and outstanding setting for special events. This year, they will have the opportunity to view the following exhibitions: Rose, c’est Paris, by Bettina Rheims and Serge Bramly,  Qumran, the dead sea scrolls disclose some of their secrets, Depardon: a personal vision of France, Hans Hartung, Rolf Liebermann.

Getting there: Although not very central, the automatic metro line 14  will bring you there quite rapidly from the very centre, and it’s a good occasion to visit a modern Parisian neighborhood, which might make a change from “old stones” of traditional districts.