Kings hoarded these books like dragons. Now you can peek inside without getting beheaded.
The National Library of France is the guardian of priceless treasures that tell our history, our illustrious thinkers, writers, scholars and artists. Telling the story of the exceptional treasures of the National Library of France is like opening a great history book rich in many twists and turns. Without the love of the kings of France for books and precious objects, this institution would never have seen the light of day. The story begins in the 14th century under the reign of a passionate writer, Charles V, who set up a library in his apartments in the Louvre. But it was not until the 17th century, and the reign of Louis XIV, a lover of the arts and letters, that the royal library took over its historic quarters in the rue Vivienne in Paris, which it still occupies.
Production
Access to vaults you'll never enter otherwise.
Cinematography
Gloved hands turning 600-year-old pages. Swoon.
Director
Marie David
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
The BnF holds over 40 million items. If you spent 30 seconds per item, you'd need 38 years — no bathroom breaks.
Charles V's original 14th-century collection started with just 973 manuscripts. Royal startup energy.
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