Business tourism with a literary edge. Paris’s literary history is still being written!

As the book fair (Salon du livre) celebrates its 30th anniversary in March, the literary side of Paris comes to life. Libraries, museums, residences and cafes open to corporate and association events whilst hotels and agencies celebrate literature with a range of activities.

The prestigious Bibliothéque nationale de France (library), with a history that goes back 700 years, offers meeting rooms at four of its sites around the capital. First of all, the François-Mitterand site which is made up of four towers designed by the architect Dominique Perrault and has the appearance of four open books on the edge

of the Seine, welcomes events in various locations. The Hall des Globes, a huge space of 1,300 m2, can seat up to 400 guests for dinner and 800 guests for cocktail receptions. The Belvédère, situated on the 18th floor of the Lois Tower has a surface area of 615 m2 (250 seated guests and 400 standing) and an unobstructed view over

the city. Exhibitions and private functions that precede or follow a light meal or dinner can be organized in the Grande Galerie and the Galerie François-1er. Lastly, the Grand Auditorium and the Petit Auditorium are suitable

for all types of events.

At the Richelieu site, the historical birthplace of the Bibliothéque nationale de France in the heart of Paris, are six areas which can host events. The Richelieu site boasts the magnificent Salle Labrouste,

a historic monument, currently undergoing renovation works and due to reopen in 2013. The Salon d’honneur, with high oak panelled walls, has an area of 88 m2 and can seat 60 dinner guests or 80 guests for cocktail receptions. In the Grand Hall, up to 300 guests can be accommodated for cocktail receptions.

The Galerie Mazarine and the Galerie de Photographie, exhibition rooms with surface areas of 383 and 324 m2, can host private visits to the exhibitions preceded by a breakfast or followed by a dinner. For a smaller event, the Chambre de Mazarin with decor dating back to the 18th century can host 20 guests. Lastly, the Salle des Commissions, a large 94 m2 event hall can host 80 guests. Two other Bibliothéque nationale de France sites organize private events. In the

9th arrondissement the Opéra Garnier houses the library-museum of the opera house, which opens its exhibition areas to 200 guests in the evening. Lastly, in the heart of Paris, the Bibliothèque de l’Arsenal with rooms from the 17th and 18th centuries can host cocktail receptions (120 guests) and dinners (60 guests).

Residences where writers lived are places that are of course also filled with literary spirit. An example of this is the Maison de Victor Hugo situated at place des Vosges, in the heart of the Marais, where the writer lived for

16 years. Victor Hugo’s apartment on the second floor of the Hôtel de Rohan-Guéménée can host private events, 50 people for a dinner and 100-150 people for cocktail receptions. The Maison de Victor Hugo, a monographic and literary museum, also has exhibition rooms. The temporary exhibition rooms are open to private functions while the permanent exhibition rooms, which have a surface area of nearly 100 m2, can host dinners of 60 to 80 guests or cocktail receptions for 200 people.

Another 19th century writer to discover is Balzac. The Maison de Balzac, situated in the 16th arrondissement of Paris, in the ancient village of Passy, has a library suitable for private functions on the ground floor of the house.

This can seat up to 50 people.

The Café de Flore, a famous literary cafe in the Saint-Germain-des-Prés district, was regularly frequented by writers such as Jean-Paul Sartre, Simone de Beauvoir and Boris Vian. The first floor of the establishment can host 40 to 50 people for a breakfast or for a buffet in the evening.

The Café Drouant which hosts the Goncourt and Renaudot literary award ceremonies and the Apollinaire poetry award can adapt its numerous areas to all types of events. The first floor features rooms with evocative names:

The Salon Colette with a surface area of 6 m2 is suitable for small functions whilst the 64 m2 mezzanine can host cocktail receptions for up to 40 people. The 15 m2 Salon Renaudot can host up to 10 people, and then there is the Salon Goncourt which has 26 m2 and the Salon Rodin with a surface area of 32 m2. The lounge, suitable for

large scale events, can host up to 70 seated guests and 170 people for cocktail receptions. It is also possible

to use the whole of the Drouant to host 200 seated guests or 300 for cocktail receptions.

• François-Mitterrand site

Quai François-Mauriac, Paris 13th

Tel +33 (0)1 53 79 51 44 ou 13

• Richelieu site

58 rue de Richelieu, Paris 2nd

Tel +33 (0)1 53 79 51 44 ou 13

• Bibliothèque-musée de l’Opéra

Palais Garnier

Place de l’Opéra, Paris 9th

Tel +33 (0)1 53 79 51 44 ou 13

• Bibliothèque de l’Arsenal

1 rue de Sully, Paris 4th

Tel +33 (0)1 53 79 51 44 ou 13

172 bd Saint-Germain, Paris 6th

Tel +33 (0)1 45 48 55 26

16-18 pl Gaillon, Paris 2nd

Tel +33 (0)1 42 65 15 16

6 place des Vosges, Paris 4th

Tel +33 (0)1 42 72 10 16

47 rue Raynouard, Paris 16th

Tel +33 (0)1 55 74 41 80