Shuttle from Sainte-Geneviève library to CDG or Orly airports

The Rich History and Visiting the Bibliothèque Sainte-Geneviève in Paris

The renowned Sainte-Geneviève Library stands proudly in the 5th arrondissement of Paris near the Pantheon. It was officially inaugurated on February 2, 1851. Covering an impressive area of ​​13,500 square meters, this intellectual hub attracts around 46,000 visitors each year. The library is situated on the former grounds of the Collège de Montaigu. The building itself was masterfully constructed by architect Henri Labrouste, who also oversaw various extensions and spatial reconfigurations of the edifice over time.

The Sainte-Geneviève Library operates as an encyclopedic interuniversity library. It is open to the general public and any individual who is of legal age and holds an academic degree. This venerable institution safeguards the collections of the former Abbey of Sainte-Geneviève, which subsequently became the central school during the revolution.

The library boasts approximately two million documents spanning a comprehensive range of disciplines. Its extensive collection consists of three primary funds. These include the ancient general funds composed of documents dating from 1811 to the present day, and the Fenno-Scandinavian fund housed in the Nordic Library. The Sainte-Geneviève Library is notable for being the first French library to have a digital library section.

The Sainte-Geneviève Library building is an exquisite example of neoclassical architecture. Its exterior is tidy yet understated, while the facade is beautifully decorated with the names of authors from the 5th through to the 7th centuries. A band wraps around the building, clearly distinguishing between the ground and first floors.

A single entrance leads into a grand vestibule replete with columns, frescoes, and marble flooring. The entrance hall provides access to a special room dedicated to the storage of rare and exceptional works. The reading room features a spacious hall divided into two sections by central columns, creating an atmosphere conducive to scholarly pursuits.