The Bouquinistes of Paris

Books, drawings, knick knacks galore!

French people love to read. I’ve seen them reading in cafes and restaurants, in parks, on the métro - basically any public place. I find it charming and a real testament of their love of the printed page!

If you’re in Paris, one of the best places to browse for books is at the bouquinistes. (Pronunciation: boo-keen-EEST — don’t pronounce the ‘s’ at the end!)

The bouquiniste booksellers line both sides of the Seine River near the Notre Dame Cathedral. They’ve been hawking their wares for centuries and are regulated by the government. They have even been acknowledged by UNESCO as an important piece of World Heritage.

Whether you look at recent or old photos of Paris, you can see the iconic green wooden structures propped open with all kinds of things for sale: comic books, old dirty magazines, art history books, or modern paperback novels. Some also have various tchotchkes and fun posters to help you remember your visit to the City of Light.

If you speak French, you may be in for an extra treat: it’s always fun to ask one of the booksellers for advice, like you would a pharmacist. Can they recommend a classic French novel? Any books about the Impressionists? If they don’t have what you’re looking for, they may recommend someone up or down the street who does.

If you don’t speak French, it doesn’t matter. Simply head down to the Notre Dame Cathedral and look for the green boxes that have all kinds of delights inside.

As the French say, profitez-bien! (Enjoy yourself!)

More info:

Atlas Obscura: The Bouquinistes of Paris

Bonjour Paris: Discover the Bouquinistes