Bibliothèque de l'Arsenal

The building you are approaching began its life as a literal fortress of war. Established in the sixteenth century by King Francois the First, this site functioned for generations as the center for manufacturing cannons and gunpowder for the French monarchy. The sprawling complex was strategically positioned between the Seine River and the moat of the Bastille, serving as the official residence for the powerful Grand Masters of Artillery. It was a place defined by the heavy industry of defense until the eighteenth century, when the sounds of metalwork and artillery production were permanently silenced to make way for a different kind of power.