Literary Love Affair: A Bibliophile’s Guide To Bookstores In Paris

Paris is the city of love, and it’s also home to some of the world’s best bookstores. The history of bookstores in Paris dates back as far as 1475, when an Italian named Jacobus Locatellus opened a shop on Rue de la Harpe. He sold books from all over Europe and even wrote one himself about how to improve your memory!

The next big development came in 1670 with Le Club des Hashischins (literally “the hashish eaters”), founded by Jean-Baptiste Galland and other intellectuals who regularly met at his house to smoke hashish together–and talk about literature! This club had such an impact on French society that its members were later known as “les immortels” (“immortals”).

Shakespeare and Company

Shakespeare and Company is a bookstore located in Paris, France. It is known for being one of the most famous literary cafes in the world. The store has been open since 1919 and was founded by Sylvia Beach, who was an American expatriate living in Paris at the time. She started out as an English teacher but soon realized that she wanted to be involved with books more than teaching them.

The specialty of this bookshop is used books; however, they do sell new ones as well! They have everything from children’s books to romance novels and sci-fi/fantasy stories too! There are also some rare editions available for purchase if you’re looking for something special or unique (but don’t worry–you don’t need any special knowledge about literature).
One thing we really loved about Shakespeare & Company is that there are plenty of places where you can sit down with your new purchases while enjoying coffee or tea from their cafe upstairs!

Galignani

Galignani is a bookstore chain with locations throughout Paris. It’s known for its selection of English-language books, as well as French-language books and magazines. The store also has an excellent selection of children’s books in both English and French, making it a great place to find something for your little ones while you’re on vacation!

The Galignani flagship store is located at 24 rue de la Bourse (6th arrondissement), but there are several other locations throughout the city: one at 7 rue des Petits Champs (1st arrondissement); another at 6 bis Rue Vivienne (2nd arrondissement); and two more on Boulevard Saint Germain–one at no.10 & another one closer toward Les Invalides metro station at no.15 bis Rue de L’Ecole Polytechnique

Gibert Jeune

Gibert Jeune is a bookstore chain with locations throughout Paris. It offers a wide selection of books in English, including bestsellers and classics, as well as French-language books and children’s titles. The store also carries magazines, comics, graphic novels and DVDs.
Gibert Jeune has two locations near the Louvre Museum: one at Avenue de l’Opera (2) and another on Rue Vivienne (5).

Librairie Molière

Located in a quiet neighborhood near the Luxembourg Gardens, Librairie Molière is a charming bookstore with an impressive selection of French books. The store has been around since 1825 and still maintains its original decor, including wooden shelves and antique furniture. The specialty at this shop is literature–you can find all kinds of classics here, as well as some obscure titles that you won’t find anywhere else. If you’re looking for something specific or just want to browse through some old favorites, this place has everything you need!

Librairie Le Divan

Librairie Le Divan is located on the Rue du Cherche-Midi, which is a short walk from the Luxembourg Gardens and Montparnasse Tower. This bookstore specializes in French literature and has a wide selection of books written by authors who have lived and worked in Paris.

The store also offers a wide selection of magazines, including several that are devoted to French culture. In addition to its books and magazines, Librairie Le Divan sells artwork by local artists as well as collectible postcards featuring images of famous Parisian landmarks like the Eiffel Tower or Notre Dame Cathedral.

Librairie La Hune

La Hune is located on the Rue de la Bûcherie, and it specializes in art books. The store has been around since the 1960s, so it’s been around for a while. It’s also one of the few bookstores that sells English-language books in Paris–which means you can find some rare titles here!

The best thing about La Hune is that it has an incredible selection of art books from all over the world–and they’re all organized by country or region so you can easily find what you’re looking for without having to search through stacks of titles on random subjects just hoping something catches your eye (or at least mine).

Librairie Kléber

Librairie Kléber is located in the heart of Paris, on the Left Bank. It’s known for its selection of English-language books and magazines, as well as French literature and comics. It also sells stationery supplies like pens, notebooks, and postcards–perfect if you want to pick up something for yourself or a friend!

The store has been around since 1848 (that’s over 160 years!). In addition to its wide selection of books and magazines from around the world (including France), Librairie Kléber has become famous for its unique decor: an entire wall made out of bookshelves!

Librairie La Procure

La Procure is a bookstore located in the 11th arrondissement of Paris, France. It specializes in books on art and architecture, but also has a large collection of general fiction and nonfiction titles.

The store was founded by Jean-Claude Lefort in 1997 and has been owned by him ever since. The store’s name comes from the French word “procurer,” which means “to supply” or “to provide.”

Librairie Eyrolles

The Librairie Eyrolles is located in the heart of Paris, on the left bank near Notre Dame Cathedral. It’s a short walk from any major tourist attractions in the city, making it easy to get to by foot or public transportation.

This bookstore specializes in books about art, architecture, and design–but they also sell fiction titles as well. Notable Features: The store has an impressive collection of illustrated books (like those you might find at an art museum) that can be hard to find elsewhere; there are also several workspaces where customers can sit down with their purchases if they want some quiet time away from the bustle of Parisian life outside

So you’re in Paris. You want to drink wine, eat baguettes, and read a book. We get it! There’s nothing better than curling up with a good book and getting lost in another world for an afternoon. Here are our favorite bookstores in Paris:

Shakespeare & Company is one of the oldest English language bookstores in Europe and has been operating since 1919. It’s also one of Hemingway’s favorite places to hang out when he was living here! They have everything from new releases to old classics, as well as rare editions that may be hard to find elsewhere (or impossible).

La Procure Gourmande is located near Notre Dame Cathedral on rue du Bac – which means it’s super easy to access from anywhere within walking distance of this area! Their selection includes cookbooks from around the world as well as comics/graphic novels if that’s more your thing; they even offer free wifi so you can browse while enjoying some delicious pastries made right there at La Procure Gourmande itself!