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2nd Arr
Paris - 2nd Arrondissement
The 2nd Arrondissement, as central as it is, is often considered rather unremarkable. First and foremost, it's the financial district of France, housing the French stock exchange -- the Bourse. The one site tourists tend to visit the most is the Biblioteque Nationale -- although it tends to be a spot people visit if they're going past on their way to other destinations, or they've been to Paris countless times and want to explore more. Those who love to rent apartments when they visit Paris, will often rent on or near rue Montorgeuil, because the market is fantastic. If you venture too far in the wrong direction, you might bump into a prostitute (they work rue St-Denis pretty hard -- still, after all these hundreds of years). The covered passages and shops (Galerie Colbert, Passage des Panoramas, Galerie Vivienne) are delightful places to happen upon. And, of course, Les Halles (watch out for pickpockets) and the Grands Boulevards are hot spots for shopaholics.
Destinations in the 2nd Arr
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Bibliotheque nationale de France FAQ
At the Bibliotheque Nationale de France you will find the Permanent Exhibition "The Globes of Louis XIV", along with other exhibitions throughout. Discover prints and illustrated books, tracts, posters, reproductions of sound recordings, a digital library and digital resources. Their online services allow you to reserve a place to study, reserve documents, to joine the library, to ask the librarians questions, to order reproductions and more. In other words, this is a library extraordinaire.
Practical Information
Richelieu Library
Address:
58 rue de Richelieu
75002, Paris
Phone: 33 1 53 79 59 59
Metro:
Bourse, Palais-Royal, Pyramides
François-Mitterrand Library
Address:
Quai François-Mauriac
75706, Paris
Phone: 33 1 53 79 59 59
Metro:
Quai de la gare, RER Bibliothèque François-Mitterrand
Admission:
Free Access
Open Hours:
Every day with these closings:
-Sunday and Monday morning for the Research library's reading rooms and Monday for the Reference library's reading rooms
- New Years Day
- Easter Sunday and Monday
- May 1 and 8
- Ascension Thursday
- Pentecost Sunday and Monday
- July 14 (Bastille Day)
- August 15
- November 1 and 11
- Christmas Day
- September 8-21
Visit the website for information on the Louvois, Opéra Library, Arsenal Library and Maison Jean-Vilar in Avignon
Website:
www.bnf.fr -
Gallerie Vivienne
Gallerie Vivienne
Gallerie Vivienne is a gorgeous, restored nineteenth century covered passage -- complete with glass roofs, mosaic-tiled floors, hand-carved wood -- and is a perfect place to stop and take in a bit of Zen.
