the essentials across France

La 9^e edition of Reading Nights, from January 23 to 26, 2025, organized by the National Book Center (CNL) and chaired by Régine Hatchondo, has the theme “Heritages”. The opportunity for unique partnerships with the Center des monuments nationaux (CMN), Paris Musées and the Historic Residence. Literature is both a component of this heritage and a way of bringing it to life. It nourishes the material, by preserving exceptional libraries, and the intangible, by shaping our knowledge.

It is through this theme that the CNL pays homage, in reading, to the numerous castles, museums, abbeys, penitentiary structures, libraries, workshops, private mansions, gardens and remarkable residences which inhabit our national territory – and inspire the authors of all time. Over the course of four days and four nights, thousands of events are scheduled throughout France (and beyond the borders), in exceptional locations.

Reading Nights 2025 in Paris

Inauguration evening at the Cité de l’architecture et du patrimoine museum

This Thursday, January 23, at 6:30 p.m., the Nights of Reading vibrate in an inauguration evening at the Cité de l'architecture et du patrimoine museum (16^e), in the presence of the godfather and godmother of the event, Stéphane Bern and Maylis de Kerangal, Régine Hatchondo (president of the CNL) and Julien Bargeton (president of the Cité de l'architecture et du patrimoine). A guided tour of this museum, one of the oldest establishments dedicated to architecture and heritage and the largest museum of monumental Art in the world, will be led by its director, Jean-Roch Bouiller, to the rhythm of performances by five poets spread across the galleries. Access to the Cité's permanent collections is exceptionally free from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Masterclass by Éric Vuillard at the Carnavalet museum

Also this Thursday, at 7 p.m., the oldest museum in Paris, the Carnavalet-Histoire de Paris museum (3^e) welcomes the writer Éric Vuillard, winner of the 2017 Goncourt Prize, for a masterclass with the journalist Kathleen Evin in the building's orangery, as part of the Nights of Reading and the exhibition Paris 1793-1794. A revolutionary year.

The Arc de Triomphe put in the spotlight

Friday January 24, meet at the Arc de Triomphe (8^e) at 7:30 p.m. for a dive into History, with author and professor emeritus in comparative literature Gabrielle Althen, who will share her work created for this national symbol, during her residency in spring 2024. For her first participation in Les Nuits reading, the Arc de Triomphe is also honored through the reading of texts written on the monument, by eminent authors such as George Sand, Lamartine, Michelet, Théophile Gautier or Edith Wharton. At the end of the meeting, visitors will have free access to the monument and its terrace.

Readings in the Catacombs

Always Friday, in the Catacombs (14^e), the Emersiøn company will intertwine classic and contemporary texts on the theme of memory, heritage and ancestors. Participants will notably hear, in the largest ossuary in the world, texts taken from Notre-Dame of Paris by Victor Hugo, We will go through storms by Anne-Laure Bondoux, Empty the premises by Olivier Rolin or even Washed Memory by Nathacha Appanah (7:30 p.m. and 8 p.m.).

Death on credit by Céline, read at the BNF

Saturday January 25, the majestic Oval Room of the National Library of France Richelieu (2^e) will celebrate the recent entry into the BNF collections of the manuscript of Death on credit by Louis-Ferdinand Céline, published by Denoël in 1936, with a reading by the actor Julien Sauvage.

Finally, throughout the four days, around forty Parisian libraries will offer the possibility of living literary experiences through meetings, musical readings and walks exploring heritage, including the National Institute of Art History or the National School of Charters.

Reading Nights 2025 in Nantes (Single venue)

Thursday January 23, at 7 p.m., the Lieu Unique reading room offers a writing and sound exploration workshop. Participants will discover a sound capsule composed of recordings made on a natural heritage site in Nantes and presented as coming from the future. After listening, everyone will be invited to write a text interpreting these sounds and bring it to life during a performed reading. The stories produced will then be brought together in a collective edition.

Reading Nights 2025 in Bordeaux (House of the Creative Economy and Culture)

The Bordeaux House of Creative Economy and Culture opens exceptionally on Thursday January 23 until 9 p.m., for an evening designed around contemporary art. From 6 p.m. there is an opening of the exhibition String marabout created at the Jetée with young people from the Mecs (social children's home) of the secular association of Prado, comparing works from the Frac collection (regional contemporary art fund) and multiples of students published by the Renard bleu association. Friday evening will be devoted to a tribute to the choreographer Carlotta Ikeda, a major figure in contemporary dance and more particularly butoh, this obscure and avant-garde Japanese dance born in the 1960s. A bookstore will be present all evening, with a special selection around this dance.

Reading Nights 2025 in Strasbourg (National and University Library)

The only library that is both public and university, the BNU of Strasbourg has been classified as a historic monument since 2004. During Reading Nights, it will host the “OFF” of Ideal Libraries. The festival takes up residence in the sublime Strasbourg building for three days of programming around the theme of revolts and revolution. With the help of artists or writers (La Grande Sophie, Pascal Quignard, Sorj Chalandon, Barbara Cassin, Vanessa Springora, Sonia Devillers, Eva Joly, André Markowicz, Olivier Manonni, etc.), the public will be invited to a punctuated literary event music, readings and meetings.

Reading Nights 2025 at the Château de Villers-Cotterêts

A center of French history and architecture, the royal castle of Villers-Cotterêts rivals the finest achievements of its time. Saturday, January 25, a program around Rabelais is offered: a “Frozen Word” workshop, accompanied by the music of Miguel Henry, will explore The Quarter Book (1552) by the author. The Cité de la langue française team will also share readings with visitors.

Reading Nights 2025 Arras-en-Lavedan

To Discover

Kangaroo of the day

Answer

Because the heritage is also natural, the festival joins forces with Le Murmure du monde and invites walkers, Friday January 24, to a nighttime literary adventure in the woods, guided by the author Lune Vuillemin. For an hour, there will be a sensory walk, where nature, words and silences will be in the spotlight. Participants will then be invited to drink mulled wine by the stove.

Complete program for Reading Nights here.