The inscription over the façade reads
“JUL. MAZARIN S.R.E. CARD BASILICAM ET GYMNAS F.C.A M.D.C.LXI”,
attesting that Mazarin ordered its construction in 1661.
The Institut de France is a French learned society, grouping five académies, including the Académie Française.
It was established in 1795 at the direction of the National Convention.
Located on the Quai de Conti in the 6th arrondissement of Paris
Metro line 4, Saint Germain des Pres.
The building was originally constructed as The Collège des Quatre-Nations (“College of the Four Nations”), also known as the Collège Mazarin after its founder, was one of the colleges of the historic University of Paris.
Facade of the Bibliothèque Mazarine within the Palace of the Institut de France.
The five académies:
Académie Française.
Académie des inscriptions et belles-lettres (Academy of Humanities)
Académie des sciences (Academy of Sciences)
Académie des sciences morales et politiques (Academy of Moral and Political Sciences)
Académie des Beaux-Arts (Academy of Fine Arts) – created 1816 as the merger of:
(The Académie de peinture et de sculpture (Academy of Painting and Sculpture.
-The Académie de musique (Academy of Music.
-The Académie d’architecture (Academy of Architecture.
The Bibliothèque Mazarine, or Mazarin Library, is located in the Palais de l’institut de France.
In 1845, the library was added to the Institut de France, which had been housed in the college buildings since 1805
Originally created by Cardinal Mazarin as his personal library in the 17th century.
Toay has one of the richest collections of rare books and manuscripts in France, and is the oldest public library in the country.
The reading room.
The library today contains about 600,000 volumes
he Library organises free guided tours for individuals only.
Organised at the end of the day under the guidance of a curator, they last around 1 hour 30 minutes and are devoted to the history of the library and its collections, its architecture and décor, and the presentation of its resources and services.
