A library you can visit
Long reserved for researchers, the historic site of the Bibliothèque nationale de France (French National Library) fully reopened to the public in 2022, after more than ten years of renovation work. It is one of the neighbourhood's lovely surprises, still little known to visitors.
The Oval Room and the museum
Beneath its great glass roof, the Oval Room is free to enter: you can sit down to read, or simply look up. The museum displays nearly 900 pieces, including the Great Cameo of France and the so-called Charlemagne chess set.
A great idea for a rainy day
Just walk up rue de Richelieu to spend a dry afternoon between the Oval Room and the museum. The garden and the café, on the rue Vivienne side, make for a pleasant break before heading to galerie Vivienne, right next door.