Among the 40 beamlines in operation at the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility, three beamlines are fully dedicated to X‐ray microscopy and micro‐spectroscopy techniques in the multi‐keV range. Offering a unique combination of non destructive analytical techniques which aim to satisfy the growing demand from experimental research fields such as medicine, geology, archaeology, earth, planetary and environmental sciences. Following a brief discussion on the strengths and weaknesses of X‐ray microscopy and spectro‐microscopy techniques in the 1–20keV range, characteristics of the beamlines are briefly described. Examples of applications are given in the reference list. © 2004 American Institute of Physics