Bibliothéque National François Mitterand

Bibliothéque National François Mitterand Review

The National Library of France, across the sleek Simone de Beauvoir footbridge from Bercy Park, is a modern complex of four 24-story L-shape buildings representing open books. Commissioned by President Mitterrand before his death, the library was said to be the world's most modern when it opened in 1998, but it was quickly mired in controversy when it was discovered that despite a $1.5 billion price tag, measures weren't taken to protect the books and rare documents, which were baking in the sun within the glass towers (movable shutters were eventually added). There is a sunken center courtyard with pine trees and basement reading rooms (it's free, and anyone can enter). Frequent temporary exhibitions are often presented, though usually not as racy as 2008's adults-only show on erotica (which featured a giant X lighted up on one of the towers).