Gallica

Gallica is the digital library of the Bibliothèque nationale de France (BnF) and one of the largest online repositories of French documentary heritage. It provides access to digitized books, manuscripts, maps, prints, photographs, periodicals, music scores, and sound recordings from the BnF and partner institutions. The platform, available at gallica.bnf.fr, offers a searchable, browseable interface with high-resolution, zoomable images and OCR-enabled full-text search across many items. Rights for individual items vary; many works are in the public domain and freely readable online, while others remain subject to copyright and licensing restrictions.

The service grew out of the BnF’s digital library initiatives in the late 1990s and has expanded through digitization programs and partnerships with libraries, archives, and museums. It continuously adds new material and employs standardized image delivery and metadata formats to enhance discoverability and interoperability. The collection spans a broad range of genres and periods, from medieval manuscripts to modern journals, and includes materials in multiple languages.

Gallica serves a wide audience, including researchers, students, educators, and the general public. It is used as a primary starting point for exploring French history, literature, cartography, art, and culture, and functions as a key repository for preservation and access to national heritage. The platform reflects the BnF’s mission to provide broad, open access to cultural resources while respecting rights and usage restrictions attached to individual items.