The World's Best Book Towns Every Bibliophile Should Visit
Batul Nafisa Baxamusa
Book lovers; no matter where they travel, will always look for a bookshop to drop in. Imagine the delight of bibliophiles, when they learn about towns around the world dedicated to bookstores! Discover the world's best book towns every bibliophile should visit once in their lifetime.
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1. Hay-on-Wye, Wales
It all started in 1961 when Richard Booth, an entrepreneur, opened a secondhand bookstore in a little market of Hay. Soon, other’s followed suit and the rest, as they say, is history. It is said to be the 1st book town in the world!
2. Urueña, Spain
Home to just 200 inhabitants with 12 secondhand and antique bookshops, Urueña is the first Villa del Libro or book village in Spain.
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3. Bécherel, France
The town has 15 bookshops, art galleries, and bookish cafes. It often holds book events, book markets on the 1st Sunday of every month as well as an October reading festival.
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4. Jinbōchō, Japan
Tokyo's book town, Jinbōchō,is the largest used as well as an antique bookshop area in Japan. There are over 170 secondhand bookstores and many publishing houses here.
5. Bredevoort, Netherlands
This small medieval town in Netherlands is home to more than 20 secondhand and antiquarian bookshops. It hosts a book market every Saturday, wherein booksellers from all over the country, come to sell their literary treasures.
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6. Redu, Belgium
Noël Anselot was immensely inspired after his visit to Hay-on-Wye. He wrote to booksellers across the region, inviting them to start selling in his village. His efforts soon tasted success and today, Redu, is known as the 1st book town in continental Europe.
7. Fjaerland, Norway
Located amidst the stunning Norwegian fjord, this is one of the world's most isolated book towns! It is open to visitors from May to September during favorable Norwegian weather.
8. Wigtown, Scotland
Wigtown is the National Book Town of Scotland since 1998. It is the only book town of the country with over 10 bookshops.
Do visit these towns if you are traveling in the region and get buried under the literary richness across the world.