Paris1972-Versailles2003

And yes coming back with an English title oh well. This is the BHVP or Bibliothéque National de la Ville de Paris! And if the archives were good, this is awesome! Paris here I am for an off the beaten path site that should be visited to know more about the history and architecture of my eternal Paris.

The Historical Library of the City of Paris (BHVP) is at 24 rue Pavée, but access through the garden of the Hotel Lamoignon – Mark-Ashton at 25, rue des Francs-Bourgeois. Metro St Paul line 1. The Historical Library of the City of Paris (BHVP) specializes in the history of Paris and the Île-de-France region . As part of the network of municipal libraries in the city of Paris, it has been located since 1969 in the Hôtel d’Angoulême-Lamoignon. You know was late again on it ::) and my blackberry at the time not good sorry!

A bit of history I like

The first library of the City of Paris was created thanks to Antoine Moriau ; Prosecutor of the city of Paris from 1722 to 1755, collector of books and various documents in Paris, he rents the Hôtel Angoulême-Lamoignon  to install his collections there, which he bequeaths to the City of Paris. The city of Paris   then decides to open the city’s first public library, inaugurated on April 13, 1763!!

The library collections were completely destroyed during the fire at the city/town hall, during the Paris Commune on May 24, 1871. From 1872, this public library specially dedicated to the history of Paris was installed in the city Hôtel Carnavalet , where a museum dedicated to the historical collections of the city of Paris was created. The collections of the museum and the library being very rich, a separation is operated between the two establishments in 1898: the museum remains in Carnavalet and the library moved to a hotel later known as Le Peletier de Saint-Fargeau at 29 rue de Sévigné. The transfer of the library to the Hôtel de Lamoignon in 1968 and its opening in January 1969, after the restoration and development work marks the renewal of the library.

A bit on the Hôtel Angoulême-Lamoignon been located at the corner of rue Pavée and rue Neuve Sainte-Catherine the latter currently the rue des Francs-Bourgeois, the Hôtel Angoulême-Lamoignon was built at the end of the 16C for Diane de France, Duchess of Angoulême, natural daughter of King Henry II. Her nephew, Charles d’Angoulême, son of Charles IX and Marie Touchet, inherited this mansion in 1619 when the Duchess died and lived there until 1650. The hotel was then shared between several tenants. The Lamoignon became owners of the hotel in 1688. The hotel was acquired by the City of Paris in 1928, but the program of restoration and enlargement works continue.

In the courtyard, a small modern pavilion keeps the memory of the first two inhabitants of the hotel: Diane de France and Charles d’Angoulême. The library collections include more than 2 million documents of all kinds, relating to the history of Paris and the Île-de-France region, literature and theater. They consist of printed books, newspapers and ephemeral documents, manuscripts, maps and plans and iconographic documents (drawings, prints, posters, postcards and photographs).  A reading room with 86 seats allows consultation of documents and access to computer stations (computerized catalog, electronic resources, internet). The documents can only be viewed on site. The documents of the library can be photographed by the readers subject to their state of conservation and in the respect of the legislation on the copyright. The library organizes punctually visits and regularly presents conferences touching on such specialty of its collections .

The BHVP ,also regularly exhibits documents in the library reception windows. It participates each year in welcoming the public as part of the European Heritage Days in September. The library is open Monday to Saturday from 10h to 18h. Closed Sundays and holidays. Registration is free and gives access to the entire network of specialized libraries of the City of Paris. The reader card is issued for all adults on presentation of an identity card and the provision of an identity photograph.

The official webpage of the BHVP is here in French: BHVP historical library of the city of Paris

The network of specialised libraries in Paris of which the BHVP is part of is here in French: Bibliotheques specialisées of Paris network

Now if you are into knowing what you visit ,then a visit to the BHVP is a must, i love it and cannot get filled of information on my eternal Paris ever. highly recommended by those interested in the history and architecture of the most beautiful city in the world=PARIS!

And remember, happy travels ,good health, and many cheers to all!!!

So coming back to Paris as we will always have Paris. Many memories here over the years and family visits as well as worked oh well; Paris is a big spot on the globe for me. There is so much to see here and tell if you like architecture and history as me and Paris. I just went to my vault and found me a picture, and why not a post on it for the memories. I like to tell you about the National Archives of France at the Hôtel de Soubise! And yes a late night shot lol!

The Archieves National ,Hôtel de Soubise, rue des Francs Bourgeois 3éme arrondissement de Paris. The Hôtel de Soubise, formerly Hôtel de Clisson then Hôtel de Guise, is a Parisian townhouse located at the corner of the current rue des Francs-Bourgeois and rue des Archives in the 3éme arrondissement of Paris in the Marais. The hotel, today is part of the National Archives.

A bit of history I like

In 1371, Olivier de Clisson, Constable of France, began the construction of a private mansion on the land he had just acquired outside the ramparts of Philippe Auguste. Of this first hotel, only the fortified door with its corbelled turrets topped with pepper shakers, overlooking the rue des Archives, the only vestige still visible of private architecture of the 14C in Paris, is preserved today.

In 1553, property of the Albret family, the Hôtel de Clisson was acquired by François de Lorraine, Duke of Guise and his wife Anne d’Este, granddaughter of Louis XII. In the middle of the 16C, it was rebuilt by Henri 1er of Lorraine-Guise, to become the Hôtel de Guise, a place where the influence of this branch of the House of Lorraine is exerted. Poets, such as Malherbe, and scholars, such as François Roger de Gaignières, who installed his famous collection of drawings there, also found refuge there at that time.

In 1700, the two princesses sold the Hôtel de Guise to François de Rohan-Soubise and Anne de Rohan-Chabot, his wife. The new facade of the Hôtel de Soubise and the colonnade of the courtyard were then built from 1705 to 1709. Prince Hercule Mériadec de Rohan-Soubise inherited his parents’ palace in 1712 and occupied it until his death in 1749. His grandson, Charles de Rohan-Soubise, Marshal of France, succeeds him and enjoys the place until his death in 1787. After the departure for the emigration of the prince and his children, during the French revolution, the Hôtel de Soubise is seized , and was diverted from its princely uses, and used, for fifteen years, for various activities – barracks, administrations, housing, factories -, which put it in a sad state. The hotels of Soubise and Rohan, which were sold to a speculator in 1807, a month before the death of the princess. In 1808, the two hotels were acquired by the state; Napoleon Ier assigned the Hôtel de Soubise to the Imperial Archives and the Hôtel de Rohan to the Imperial Printing Office.

The National Archives continued to occupy the site throughout the 19-20C. Under Louis-Philippe and Napoleon III, they annexed four other neighboring mansions, notably the hotels of Jaucourt, Le Tonnelier de Breteuil and Assy, rue des Francs -Bourgeois, and, in 1927, the Hôtel de Rohan, in turn, abandoned by the Imprimerie Nationale (old Imperial  printing office). From 1846 to 1866, the École des Chartres also settled there. The first construction, now called the Louis-Philippe deposits, were built in the eastern extension of the Hôtel de Soubise. The Parliament Gallery is the culmination of the new repository to house the state’s judicial records. a second phase of works was launched in 1859. This new construction extends the corner pavilion of the Louis-Philippe wing and is today called the Napoleon III depot. In 1866, the symbolic character of the room was reinforced by the integration of the iron wardrobe. The creation of this safe had been ordered by the National Constituent Assembly in 1790 in order to protect the most precious documents from fire and theft. In the 19C, this wardrobe became the conservatory of the pieces considered the most emblematic in the history of France. Since 1996, the iron safe has housed all of France’s constitutional texts. It also contains pieces as priceless as the standard meter and the standard kilogram of 1799, the diary of Louis XVI, the jeu de paume Court Oath and the text of the law of June 20, 1936 instituting paid holidays.The museum of the National Archives occupies certain rooms of the Hôtel de Soubise since its creation, in 1867.

One nice monument in a very popular area of the Marais, maybe you passed by without realising treasures of France are kept here. Hope you enjoy the post and go by see it. Some webpages to help you know more about it are

Official National Archieves on the Hôtel de Soubise in French: Archives Nationales de France on Hotel de Soubise

The official National Archieves on the museum part in French: Archives Nationales on the museum

The tourist office of Paris on the National Archives museum at the Hôtel de Soubise in English: Tourist office of Paris on museum national archives

One awesome building where the museum can be visited and fun while doing your walk in historically and architecturally stunning the Marais. Enjoy the National Archives and the Hôtel de Soubise in Paris!

And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all!!!