The National Library of Greece had the distinct honour of welcoming the President of the French Republic, Emmanuel Macron, on 25 April 2026, accompanied by the Prime Minister of the Hellenic Republic, Kyriakos Mitsotakis. The presence of the two leaders at the National Library of Greece, situated within the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Centre, constitutes a highly symbolic visit, highlighting the Library’s role as a vibrant hub of culture, knowledge, and international cooperation.

During their visit, they were guided through the temporary exhibition “(Re)searching the Orient: Crossed Paths of Archaeologists”, which was co-organised by the French School at Athens and the University of Strasbourg, in collaboration with the National Library of Greece. Through archival materials and scholarly approaches, the exhibition illuminates the dialogue between different cultural perspectives and underscores the contribution of archaeological research to the understanding of the East.

The visit is part of the broader framework of the long-standing and close cooperation between Greece and France in the fields of culture, science, and research. At the same time, it reaffirms the role of the National Library of Greece as a meeting point for international synergies and as an institution that actively promotes outward-looking initiatives and the exchange of knowledge.