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The BnF, a true temple of culture, suspends time in its flight and majesti- cally displays our common memory by preserving in its setting the creations of the greatest thinkers to make them available to varied audiences.
This place has always been dedicated to knowledge accumulated throughout history and to research.
The Bnf contains treasures in its collections, the most heritage, the most mu- seum-like - manuscripts, scores, prints, photographs, maps and plans, terres- trial and celestial globes, costumes, puppets, treasures from the King’s cabinet, collections of antiques... It was therefore vital to rethink not only its space and layout to secure it but also to make it more comfortable.The renaissance of Richelieu was conceived in the wake of the “very large library” project which, in 1998, allowed the “old BN”, under the leadership of François Mitterrand, to enter the 21st century by expanding its ability to welcome researchers, inviting them to open up to other readers and allowing them to deploy their mission of promoting heritage.
The museum has been restored and returned to its original beauty, adapted to the constraints and demands of the modern world by the architects Bruno Gaudin and Virginie Brégal, remaining faithful to their predecessors Labrouste, Pascal and Roux-Spitz.