Reopened in 2022 after eleven years of works, the Salle Ovale at BnF Richelieu has become one of the best-kept secrets of the 2nd arrondissement: a public reading room, free, open to all — students, the curious, or travellers in search of a silent refuge.
A study room anyone can walk into
Long reserved for researchers, the Salle Ovale was rethought during the renovation of the Richelieu site to become a space freely accessible to the public. Since September 2022, anyone can walk in, settle at one of the long tables, and read one of the 20,000 books available on open shelves: novels, graphic novels, manga, art books, children's literature.
No registration needed, no ticket to pay — you just walk in. It has become the favourite working spot of a new generation of Parisian students, who appreciate the silence, the natural light and the beauty of the setting.
A masterpiece by Jean-Louis Pascal
Inaugurated in 1936, the room owes its architecture to Jean-Louis Pascal, successor to Henri Labrouste on the BnF construction. Its oval plan — rare in Paris — is crowned by sixteen tall windows and a painted ceiling that diffuses a soothing light. The dark wooden bookshelves, the wrought iron balustrades, the marble floor: everything here breathes calm and erudition.
Right next door is the famous Salle Labrouste and its nine cast iron domes (1868), now reserved for accredited researchers at the INHA (Institut national d'histoire de l'art). It can be glimpsed during Heritage Days or on special guided tours.
The Richelieu site in numbers
The BnF holds nearly 40 million documents across its various sites. The Richelieu site houses a precious share: maps and plans dating back to the 16th century, prints and photographs, coins and medals, musical manuscripts, performing arts archives.
The Salle Ovale can accommodate around 160 readers at once, and the site welcomes on average over 1,000 visitors per day. The adjacent museum, open to the public with a ticket, displays the BnF's treasures — from Coronelli's globe to medieval illuminated manuscripts.
When and how to visit?
The Salle Ovale is open Tuesday to Sunday, generally from 10am to 6pm (until 8pm on Tuesdays). Entry is free, no booking required.
The best time to settle in is on a Tuesday or Wednesday morning, right at opening: the light is superb, the crowd is moderate, and you can easily find a seat near the windows.
A few tips: bring a laptop or notebook if you plan to work (Wi-Fi is free), respect the customary silence, and don't hesitate to combine your visit with the BnF museum right next door (paid ticket, around €10). Architecture lovers should look out for the guided tours that sometimes give access to the Salle Labrouste.
Where to stay
The BnF Richelieu is just minutes on foot from the Palais-Royal and our Duc de Choiseul Flat, nestled in the eponymous passage. Staying here means immersing yourself in 19th-century Paris — the arcades, the antiquarian booksellers of rue de Richelieu, the literary cafés.
From the flat, it's only an 8-minute walk to the main entrance of the BnF.