Bibliothèque Mazarine, Public library in Palais de l'Institut de France, Paris, France
The Bibliothèque Mazarine spans across multiple rooms in the Palais de l'Institut de France, featuring high wooden bookshelves and ornate architectural details from the 17th century.
Cardinal Mazarin established this library in 1643, initially collecting 5,000 books from Rome before expanding it to become the largest private collection in Europe.
The library maintains over 600,000 volumes, including a Gutenberg Bible and extensive collections focusing on French literary history and local heritage documentation.
Visitors can access the library Monday through Friday from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM, except during the annual closure period from August 1st to August 15th.
The reading room contains original furniture and decorative elements from the 17th century, including carved wooden columns and gilded capitals supporting two levels of shelving.
Location: 6th arrondissement of Paris
Inception: 1643
Founders: Cardinal Mazarin
Part of: Palais de l'Institut de France
Address: 23 Quai de Conti, 75006 Paris, France 75006
Opening Hours: Monday-Friday 10:00-18:00 ; August 1-15 off
Phone: +33144414406
Email: contact@bibliotheque-mazarine.fr
Website: http://bibliotheque-mazarine.fr
GPS coordinates: 48.85727,2.33736
Latest update: June 23, 2025 09:40
The Latin Quarter is one of the oldest parts of Paris and preserves traces from over two thousand years of history. Roman remains like the Arènes de Lutèce recall the ancient settlement of Lutetia, while medieval churches such as Saint-Étienne-du-Mont and Saint-Julien-le-Pauvre document the religious past. The Sorbonne and the Collège de France have made the district a center of learning since the Middle Ages, and institutions like the Bibliothèque Sainte-Geneviève continue this academic tradition. The Musée de l'Histoire de la Médecine traces the development of medicine, the Musée Curie honors the scientific discoveries of Marie and Pierre Curie, and the Musée des Arts du Moyen Âge displays medieval art within the ruins of Roman baths. Narrow streets lead to squares like Place de la Contrescarpe and Place de l'Estrapade, where locals gather in cafés and markets. The Marché de la Rue Mouffetard is one of the city's oldest street markets and offers fresh produce daily. Literary and artistic traces appear at the Maison de Serge Gainsbourg, the historic jazz cellar Le Caveau de la Huchette, and cafés like Le Procope, which has welcomed writers and thinkers since the 17th century. The Jardin des Plantes combines botanical collections with the Musée de Minéralogie, while the Square René-Viviani provides a quiet view of Notre-Dame with its ancient tree. The Grande Mosquée de Paris and the Institut du Monde Arabe add North African and Arab perspectives to the cultural offerings.
Pont des Arts
122 m
Académie des beaux-arts
35 m
Hôtel de la Monnaie
144 m
Quai de Conti
61 m
Quai Malaquais
169 m
Musée de la Monnaie de Paris
148 m
Square Gabriel-Pierné
61 m
Pont des Arts
150 m
Petit Hôtel de Guénégaud
113 m
La République
118 m
Square Honoré-Champion
83 m
Hôtel de Transylvanie
173 m
Fontaine du Marché-aux-Carmes
59 m
Emperor Napoleon
35 m
Place de l'Institut
35 m
Palais de l'Institut de France
31 m
Bibliothèque de l'Institut de France
33 m
Chapel of Collège des Quatre-Nations
42 m
Hôtel de Garsaulan
124 m
Hôtel de Saxe
110 m
Hôtel Sillery-Genlis
60 m
7-9 rue Mazarine, Paris
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7 rue Bonaparte, Paris
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9 rue Bonaparte, Paris
182 m
6-8 rue de Seine
77 m
Immeuble, 1 rue Jacques-Callot
168 m
11 rue Mazarine, Paris
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