The Turgenev Library in Paris is an independent cultural center operating since 1875. Our institution facilitates the transnational dissemination of uncensored thought in Russian and accommodates support for free-thinking Russian-speaking communities. It is managed by an independent association, and has never been affiliated with any of Russian authorities or government bodies.
Our mission
The mission of the Turgenev Library is to nurture, preserve, and pass on to new generations a free-spirited Russian culture, not only in France but worldwide, through provision and sustaining of an open space for reading, research, and dialogue.
The Library offers access to a rich collection of books and periodicals (currently over 45,000 items), supports scholarly and cultural initiatives, and brings together a community of researchers, writers, intellectuals, and all those interested in russophone culture, society and history.
We strive to strengthen cultural traditions and contemporary creativity by fostering multilingual, intercultural, and intergenerational exchange, and by empowering Russian-speaking and minority diasporas as well as anti-war minded citizens of Russia who have found themselves isolated, censored, and oppressed in their own country. With this in mind, we offer a dynamic and thought-provoking program of public events and debates, accessible both in person and online.
Our vision
The Turgenev Library’s key aim is to serve as a vibrant intellectual hub for innovative communities and anti-war initiatives, and it is open to all who seek dialogue between Russian-speaking and European cultures.
The association is built on a diverse and resourceful network of partnerships, including cultural figures and cross-disciplinary researchers, dedicated volunteers and farsighted sponsors, regular visitors and casual readers, whose engagement continues to enrich our mission and spirit.
For us, the library is not only a repository of memory but also a space for active knowledge exchange and reflection, where the legacy of the past helps us critically understand the present so we can shape and build a shared future that mirrors our values and principles.
Our history
The Turgenev Public Library, founded in 1875, emerged from a joint initiative of three groups active within the Russian-speaking exile community: female medical students, young revolutionaries, and prominent educated expatriates. United in their opposition to the authoritarian Russian regime, they laid the foundation for an institution that, with the support of Ivan Turgenev and other established intellectuals, has since lived several distinct lives. With each new wave of political emigration and each resounding shift of the era, the Library has continued to reinvent itself while its history inevitably being intertwined with the fates of authors and thinkers across France, Russia, and all of Europe.
The history of the institution, pulsating with remarkable acquisitions, bitter losses, and unexpected revivals continues to inspire thanks to the boundless energy of its participants, visitors, and readers. For more than a century and a half, the Turgenev Library has remained a place of uncensored knowledge, vivid encounters, and lively dialogue, always attuned to the rhythm of European reality. To learn more about the Library’s history:
– If you read Russian, you may be interested in the detailed historical overview of the Turgenev Library.
– Please explore the publications list that highlights the Library’s influence and history across the current and past decades.
In 2025, the Turgenev Library celebrates its 150th anniversary. As we mark this significant occasion, we want to do more than recall the Library’s glorious beginnings, and we take a look into the future together with you. On December 5-6, 2025, we warmly invite you to the BazarOff book festival, a place where you can meet people and institutions who contribute to the new Russian language culture.
Our news
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