The museum library is located in the outbuildings of the Palace : the Grand Commun, built between 1682 and 1684 by Jules Hardouin-Mansart, has been entirely renovated as office space.
The Museum Library
About the collections
The library’s book collections cover the history of France from the seventeenth to the twentieth century plus art history from the seventeenth to the nineteenth century.
Included in the collections are :
- 17,000 volumes on paintings, graphic art, decorative arts, sculpture, architecture, garden landscape and museology
- Auction and sale catalogues, dating from the late nineteenth-century to the present day (Hôtel Drouot, Sotheby’s, Christie’s…)
- 100 periodical titles including 40 on-going subscriptions
- Online resources: Encyclopædia Universalis, JSTOR, I.B.A. (International Bibliography of Art), Allgemeines Künstler-lexikon, Bénézit, Artprice, Artnet (decorative arts)
Access
The primary mission of the library is to support the research activities of the museum staff; in addition, it welcomes a broad range of students and researchers (by appointment only). All material must be used in the library which also offers color scanner & printer.
The library is a member of the National Museum Libraries Network (R.B.M.N.) which is a consortium of 28 museum libraries throughout France. Each has its own areas of expertise. Combined, they cover the periods from Prehistoric Art to Contemporary Art.
Access
Grand Commun
Museum Library
1, rue de l’Indépendance américaine
78000 Versailles
Horaires d’ouverture
From Monday to Friday, from 9.30 am to 12.30 pm et from 2 pm to 5 pm
Only with appointment.
Contact
Marie-Laetitia Lachèvre
Responsible of the Library
01 30 83 73 04
Plan my visit
guided tours
During guided tours, a speaker from the Palace invites you into lesser known locations otherwise closed to the visitors. You can also book online tours to discover the backstage of the Castle from your home!
Show
The 2024-2025 musical season
The Palace of Versailles is hosting numerous operas, concerts, gala evenings and ballets in some of its exceptional spaces, including the Royal Opera and the Royal Chapel. Check out the programme for the 2024–2025 music season at Versailles.
Virtual exhibition
Virtual exhibitions
Let's plunge into interactive frescoes and discovers the paintings, sculptures and engravings in a new light.
The official Palace of Versailles app.
The free application of the Palace offers audio tours to accompany your visit to the Estate (Palace, Gardens, Trianon Estate, etc.) as well as an interactive map.
More information
Are you a regular visitor?
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