Bibliothèque Raoul Mille

In 1987, a man named Raoul Mille won the Prix Interallié for his novel “Les amants du Paradis”. Years later, this literary figure would lend his name to a unique library in Nice, the Bibliothèque Raoul Mille. The Bibliothèque Raoul Mille isn’t just any library. It’s a testament to transformation, housed within the renovated walls of the former Gare du Sud. Imagine stepping into a place where the echoes of train whistles and bustling passengers have been replaced by the quiet rustle of turning pages. The original Gare du Sud, built in 1892, served as the terminus for the Nice-Grasse and Nice-Digne lines. The neoclassical facade, a proud landmark on Avenue Malausséna, witnessed countless arrivals and departures. After the station’s closure in 1991, the building faced an uncertain future, threatened with demolition. Luckily, the city of Nice recognized the historical significance of the building. In 2002 and 2005, the facade and the metallic train hall respectively were added to the supplementary inventory of historical monuments. The train shed was later dismantled due to its deteriorating condition. The Bibliothèque Raoul Mille opened its doors in January 2014. The transformation of this historical landmark is a story of preservation and reinvention. The library boasts 1,500 square meters of space spread over four floors. The ground floor welcomes visitors with a grand hall, situated in the former waiting room, and a multimedia room. On the first floor, a play area awaits, filled with board games and wooden toys. The second floor offers a vast reading room, home to thousands of books, DVDs, and periodicals. The top floor provides a multimedia workspace with breathtaking views of Place Charles-de-Gaulle. The Bibliothèque Raoul Mille continues the building’s original mission of transporting people, not by train, but through the power of literature. Raoul Mille, a local writer and advocate for literacy, dedicated his life to the written word and championed reading. He even served as a city council member in Nice. His name graces this library as a tribute to his contributions to literature and his commitment to education. The Bibliothèque Raoul Mille offers a blend of history and modernity, inviting visitors to embark on a journey of discovery within the beautifully repurposed walls of a former train station.