Did you think you knew all the secrets of Paris? What if we told you that the 10th arrondissement hides a former prison, now a magnificent municipal media library? Welcome to the Françoise Sagan Media Library, a former medieval leprosarium that has had a thousand lives before becoming a municipal library. Listed as a historic monument thanks to its remarkable facade, staircases, and galleries, it is the second largest media library in Paris!
An unusual library in Paris
A former monastery of the Congregation of the Mission, founded by Saint Vincent de Paul in the 17th century, this huge agricultural and religious estate in the heart of Paris has had several lives. Formerly a hospital for lepers, it changed completely after the French Revolution , becoming a huge prison. During the Reign of Terror, nobles, intellectuals, and poets were imprisoned there. In the 19th century, it became a prison for women and a hospital where prostitutes were forced to go. It was a place of suffering, where many women were bruised in body and soul…
Then, in the 20th century, the prison closed its doors and the site became a specialist hospital before closing permanently in 1998. Subsequently, a huge renovation project was launched. It took until 2015 for this historic landmark to be reborn. Now the François Sagan media library, this magnificent 4,000 m² space (2,600 of which are open to the public) has retained all its beauty. The magnificent arcades of the former cloister remain, as does a sublime Mediterranean garden that adds incredible charm to the inner courtyard. A touch of modernity has been added, particularly to the interior of the building, which is flooded with sunlight. There are more than 100,000 documents, including a magnificent collection of books to borrow, from classic novels to children’s books and history books, as well as vinyl records, albums, DVDs, and more. You can also work there or enjoy its free exhibition space. It’s an absolutely incredible place to discover at least once.
💶 Price: Free
📍 Location: 8 Rue Léon Schwartzenberg, 75010 Paris
