Boulevard Gambetta – Espace Argence - Tél: 03.25.43.56.20

10,000 sq m, 500,000 ancient and contemporary works, 575 reading places, 60 multimedia posts. “Ecrit dans le coeur des objets!” (“Written in the heart of objects”) (Ziener, USA) , is the motto on the wall of the new library that was entirely removed and reinstalled in a great architectural vessel of glass and metal in June 2002.

Originally it was opened to the public in the old Cordeliers Convent in 1651 and is one of the oldest in France, enriched at the time of the Revolution by the very large collection of the Abbey of Clairvaux.

The Grande Salle or Great Hall was entirely recreated in its original form: there are 18 shelving units 50 m long, 10 m wide and 7m high, housing 45,000 ancient books.

The oldest book is “liber pastoralis” by Pope Gregory 1st (VII c.). 

Exceptional: Grand Bible of Clairvaix in 5 volumes, Bible in 2 volumes by Montieramey (XII c.) 1700 manuscripts of the VII and XIV c.

One of the largest collections of incunabula (700 books printed before 1500) and very rich collection of mediaeval bindings including very rare Roman bindings.

Original: a scenic meander lasting one hour, retracing the history of modern collections back to XII c., spread around the reconstructed Grande Salle.

Opening times:
Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday : 10:00 hrs – 19:00 hrs
Monday and Thursday: 12:00hrs – 19:00 hrs