Polish Library in Paris, Research institute and cultural center on Île Saint-Louis, France
The Polish Library in Paris operates from a 17th-century mansion on Île Saint-Louis and holds more than 220,000 volumes of books, documents, and historical archives related to Polish heritage. The collection includes rare manuscripts and early printed books that provide a comprehensive view of Polish history and culture.
Founded in 1838 by Adam Jerzy Czartoryski and other Polish emigrants following the November Uprising, the institution was created to safeguard Polish cultural treasures. During periods of political upheaval across Europe, it remained a keeper of Poland's history and artistic legacy.
The building holds three separate museum spaces dedicated to Polish art and literature: the Frederic Chopin Salon, the Adam Mickiewicz Museum, and the Boleslaw Biegas Art Collection. These rooms reflect artistic movements and literary traditions that visitors can explore throughout their visit.
Visitors can access the reading room to explore the extensive collection of rare early prints and thousands of manuscripts. The location is easy to reach and offers a quiet workspace for those wanting to dive deeper into the materials.
The collection holds original editions of works by Nicolaus Copernicus, including rare early prints of astronomical treatises from the 16th century. Also notable are volumes of Jan Dlugosz's Historiae Polonica, among the oldest sources for European historical writing.
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