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A stroll through the bouquinistes’ stalls is a genuine experience and a real pleasure. And the Paris’ bookstalls are one of the most iconic symbols of Paris15102018-IMG_7305

In brief : 

The “bouquinistes’ (=  Paris’ bookstalls) are traditional secondhand booksellers located along the quays of the rive Seine. It’s the largest open air bookshop in Europe. One of the most iconic symbols of Paris. Paris wouldn’t be the same without its bookstalls !

In “A moveable feast” Hemingway,mentions the bouquinistes; Hemingway used to visit the bookstalls and buy second-hand books there, especially on the left bank (Hemingway has spent all his Parisian years on the left bank (first in the Latin Quarter, then, in Montparnasse, then in Saint Germain des Prés, and finally in the South part of Montparnasse. 

Hemingway wrote : Shakespeare and company A moveable feast

“In the bookstalls along the quais, you could sometimes find American books that had just been published for sale very cheaply…if the people (in the Tour d’Argent’s
rooms) who lived there left any books behind there was a bookstall not far along the quai where the valet de chambre sold them and you could buy them from the proprietress for a very few francs…. After that bookstall near the Tour d’Argent, there were no others that sold American and English books entitle Quai des Grands Augustins” (in A Moveable feast – Chapter 4 – People of the Seine)

Among the other most famous customers, François Mitterrand, who liked to “browse” the quays, then walking back home (rue de Bièvre – Paris 5)  followed by his two bodyguards !

Left Bank - Bouquinistes - 1920

Bouquinistes in 1920 – 0n the left bank – At the time Hemingway was in Paris

sur le quai de la Tournelle années 1950 - Paris 5e

Quai de la Tournelle années in 1950 – Paris 5

Some figures : 

  • around 1000 boxes
  • 240 booksellers
  • 3 kms along the river Seine
  • Since the 16th century
  • more than 300 000 items : books and magazines and many others items
  • Opened daily from the morning to sunset ( but generally from 11am). Then the “boxes are locked with padlocks

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    Quai Voltaire – Paris 6

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Vintage magazines

Where does the word “bouquiniste” come from ? (Bouquinistes = bookstalls)

Bouquiniste is formed with the word “bouquin”. The Bouquinistes are the shopsellers who sell “bouquins” ! (The term “bouquiniste” appeared in the dictionary of the French Academy in 1762.)

Bouquin doesn’t mean exactly “book”. The classic and exact French translation for book is : “livre”. Actually, “livre” and bouquin” are synonymous but with a slight difference (more details/explanation below).

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Quai Voltaire – Paris 6

 

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Quai Voltaire – Paris 6

The word “bouquin” was originally used to depict an old book. Nowadays, “bouquin” is more often used to depict a book in a familiar way, a bit closer to French slang for book. It’s not rude at all to use the word “bouquin”, but it’s a much less elegant way of speaking… less litterary !!!  The word “bouquin” come from the old dutch word (17th c) : boeckjijn ou boekin

My personal note : The bookstalls are so much a part of Paris’ landscape that I believe unfortunately, we Parisians (including myself), sort of forget about them.
Both planning to write this article, and taking my visitors for tours nearby and along the Seine gave me the opportunity to rediscover these iconic bookstalls much better (!) , And it made me want to spend more time browsing them. It reminded me of how pleasant it is to stroll along this huge open-air bookshop in the wonderful setting of the Seine and with Notre Dame, the Conciergerie or Le Louvre in the background. So thank you for that !!

What do they look like and where to find them ?

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Notre Dame in the background

They are 240 of them, dark green color. In French, we call their color :  “green wagon”. It refers to the dark green of old train carriages. The color has been strictly defined since 1891, so as to be in harmony with the Wallace fountains and the Morris columns. 

And we call them : “boîtes” (= “boxes”). They are made with metal and they are hanging on the parapets of the banks of the Seine.

They are all the same size : The size was fixed since 1930 :

  • Length : 2 meters
  • Between each box : 20cm.
  • Width : 0.75 meters.
  • The upper edge of the opened cover mustn’t be higher than 2.10 meters above the ground .

They are registered on the UNESCO world heritage since 1991.

There are 240 of them extending for 2,8 kilometers along the banks of the  Seine

WHERE ?

  • On the right bank from  Marie bridge (= Pont Marie Paris 4 – Marais neighborhood – Metro stop Pont Marie or Saint Paul) to Louvre bank ( = Quai du Louvre – nearby Le Louvre)
  • On the left bank  from Tournelle bank ( = Quai de la Tournelle – Paris 5 – Latin Quarter) to Voltaire bank ( = Quai Voltaire, nearby Orsay Museum and the rue du Bac)2018-09-07 - Carte de Paris des Bouquinistes

Being a bookseller  :

4 boxes are allowed for each bookseller (4 boxes of 2 meters long for each bookseller). The booksellers don’t pay any tax nor rent but they need to get a license ( a yearly renewable license, issued by the City of Paris). They must be open at least 4 days a week

What do they offer ? 

They originally used to offer (and still do !) : second hand books (including rare editions of novels), prints, old magazines, old manuscripts and newspapers, old photos, posters, and collectable postcards. You can find French books as well as English books. 

Prices are generally displayed even for old and rare items. And you can most often find something to enjoy (a book or any other items) from 1 euro !

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Posters and postcards

The tourism increasing, they now offer Paris souvenirs too (key rings, and other souvenir gifts) too. Though the city of Paris ask them to focus their offer mostly on their original activity and minimize the offer of touristic souvenirs. Thus, only 1 of the 4 boxes (at most) can be dedicated to tourist souvenirs. 

Each bookseller who is running a bookstall tend to have his own specialty. For instance, a bookseller chose to have international customers and thus, is selling the American magazine “National Geographic” and english magazine published since 1888, but he is selling French literature, science fiction and detective novels too.

A bit of History !

The tradition was born around the 16th century. Itinerant booksellers were selling books, travelling back and forth along the Seine and on the Pont Neuf too ( = the oldest Paris’ bridge).

In the 19th century, the first bouquinistes settled on the Quai Voltaire in 1821, installing their boxes permanently. 

From 1891, they were allowed to leave their items during the night. During the Universal exhibition of 1900, there were already 200 bouquinistes along the river Seine.

Image below : in 1858 

Bouquinistes Quai des grands Augustins en 1858

Quai des Grands Augustins in 1858

sur le quai des Grands Augustins - années 1900

Quai des Grands Augustins – 1900

Depicted in numerous paintings of Paris, especially during the impressionist period :

http-::www.pillon-encheres.com:html:fiche.jsp?id=7619365&np=3&lng=fr&npp=50&ordre=2&aff=1&r=

Edouard Léon Cortès (1882-1969)

Edouard Léon Cortès (1882-1969)

My suggestion : Combine a stroll along the bouquinistes with one of Ann Jeanne in Paris tours :

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Ann Jeanne

A walking tour in the “Latin Quarter” or a walking tour “From Le Marais to Notre Dame (via Saint Louis Island)”. 

(Each tour can be customized, according to your wishes and interests or combined with another AJIP tour). All the tours are lead by me.)

  • More details about AJIP private walking tours : please click here 
  • Just of the different walking tours : please click here
  • Don’t hesitate to contact me 

You can also combine a visit of  the Bookstalls, with a visit of the Sainte Chapelle, a visit of Notre dame cathedral, a visit of Orsay museum, a visit of Shakespeare and Company bookstore and so on… !

A few more pictures !

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Bouqinistes - Quai Voltaire 1910

Quai Voltaire 1910

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pa160025-1A Paris night cruise

A cruise on the Seine by day or by night  is a great way to discover Paris

But  a cruise at night is particularly charming. Probably a must-do during your stay in Paris.

The monuments are illuminated along the Seine. A way to see Paris differently.

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  • There are several companies that provide similar tours along the river Seine
  • Most of the cruises start nearby the Eiffel Tower  (though the Vedettes du Pont Neuf start from the Cité Island not far from Notre Dame). They generally  start and end at the same point

I generally choose either the Vedettes du Pont Neuf or the Batobus,

which in my opinion, are the most easy and simple ways to discover Paris along the Seine.


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The Vedettes du Pont Neuf :

I often choose the Vedettes du Pont Neuf :

  • because it is almost the only company who starts from the center of Paris.
  • the boats are not too big and the cruise is not too long.

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    Vedettes du Pont Neuf’s itinerary

  • The boats pass along many beautiful monuments of Paris such as  Le Louvre, the Cathedral of Notre dame, the Eiffel Tower, Alexandre III bridge, the Pont Neuf, The Musée d’orsay, …and more.  Without any stop.
  • The cruise is commented.

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The Batobus :

  • They are hop-on/hop-off boats 
  • They make a circuit with separate stops near major tourist destinations.
  • Though it’s not intended for a sighteseeing cruise, but in my opinion it’s similar to it.Good points :
  • You can choose your point of departure : Saint germain des prés, Notre Dame, Jardin des plantes, Hôtel de Ville,  Louvre,
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    Batobus ‘ itinerary

    Champs Elysées, Eiffel Tower or Musée d’orsayYou can leave at each stop whever you want `

  • You leave the Batobus then take it again later during the same day (if you’ve booked a one day ticket) (Unlimited transportation for an entire day).
  • Bad point : The tour lasts longer (than the Vedette du Pont Neuf tour)  as it stops several times and the itinerary is longer than the Vedettes du Pont Neuf’s itinerary . So, if you want to do the entire tour, it will take about 2 hours, instead of 1 hour with the Vedettes du Pont Neuf.

Note that there are not a lot of commentaries, but there is still some.

Experience a Paris night cruise watching my video !  

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Alexandre III Bridge

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Experience Paris, with Ann Jeanne in Paris, native Parisian :

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Ann Jeanne at Montsouris neighborhood

You’d like visit Paris, but you don’t feel having a tour with a group ?

You ‘d like to feel welcome in Paris, whether you’re coming alone or not

You’d like to get a real feel of an authentic Paris, the Paris of the Parisians and get full of tips from a native ?

You’d like to see Paris in another perspective and to know more about Paris and Parisians’s life and culture ?

FEEL WELCOME !

  • I’d be delighted to welcome you and share “my” Paris with you. And Paris will be “your” city too 
  • The tours are private (with you only or you and the person you choose), at your pace and customized according to your wishes and interests
  • For more details : “Ann Jeanne in Paris” tours, Booking and Pricing
    All the tours can be customized
    Feel free to contact me

Practical details 

  • Vedettes du Pont Neuf :   vedettesdupontneuf.com
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A Vedette du Pont Neuf

  • Departure : about every ½ hour
  • from 10.30am to around 10pm (check the departures schedule on their website as they are different according to the period of the year)
  • The tickets can be booked on line, but generally it’s easy to buy the ticket at the counter. They are available for a year
  • The price : 14 euros

Address :Vedettes du Pont Neuf – Square du Vert Galant – 75001 Paris – France

Tel: +33 (0) 1 46 33 98 38     E -mail: info@vedettesdupontneuf.com

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The Vedettes du Pont Neuf’s departure

 

Price :

  • 17 euros for One day
  • 19 euros for 2 following days

My request  Have you taken a Seine cruise during a trip to Paris ? If so, please tell my about your Seine river cruise experience. Let me know what company you chose and  your feedback . Thank you !

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Le Louvre

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Notre Dame

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Batobus

Down and up the Seine in Paris with Batobus  = a great way to travel the city

Discover Paris  with Batobus,  a riverboat shuttle service on the Seine, hop-on/hop-off boat . You see a different view of Paris.  You’ll see all the bridges in the heart of the city

9 stops : Eiffel Tower, Musée d’Orsay, St Germain des Prés, Notre-dame, Jardin des Plantes, Hôtel de Ville, Louvre, Champs-Elysées and Beaugrenelle.

IMG_0273-2Just get on and off as much as you want. But it isn’t a guided tour of Paris : no narration. A great way to move from one place to another and you can decide where you want to get off .

One day pass : 16 euros – Under 16s : 9 euros. Tickets are to be bought from one of the kinks places at each one of the 9 stops. Boats run every 20 to 30 minutes. Each stop is about 10 – 15 minutes apart.

http://www.batobus.com

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