Cercle de la Librairie building

The Cercle de la Librairie building is a multi-story urban structure featuring a prominent rotunda at the intersection of two streets in the 6th arrondissement. The protected facades and roofs showcase careful architectural detailing, while the interior is organized around a distinctive double-revolution staircase that connects different levels and spaces.

Charles Garnier, architect of the Paris Opera, designed this structure between 1878 and 1879 for the French book industry association. The building became a symbol of the strength and influence of Paris's publishing and bookselling trades during the late 19th century.

The building served as a gathering place for the Parisian publishing and bookselling community, reflecting the importance of the book trade to the city. Its spaces hosted exhibitions on typography and printing, showing how architecture supported the literary world.

The building sits at the corner of Boulevard Saint-Germain and is easy to reach on foot with clear views of its distinctive rounded corner from the street. You can appreciate the architectural details from both sides of the intersection without needing to enter, making it ideal for a quick visit.

The building features an unusual double-revolution staircase system that winds around the core of the rotunda, connecting different floors in an elegant way. This technically sophisticated stair design was remarkable for its time and allowed the interior spaces to be used efficiently without compromising the building's outer architecture.