There was time for the “bouquinistes” to read, make some crosswords…
It has been a centuries long tradition to sell books, previously on the bridges, later on the banks of the Seine. Since the mid of the 19th century this has been done in an authorized and organized way.
There are now some close to 250 “bouquinistes” around. The measurements of each box are standard and regulated. You can today find these stalls or boxes on both sides along the Seine, more or less according to the dotted red lines. The “bouquinistes” are now part of the UNESCO World Heritage.
If you originally could expect to find only second hand books, gravures etc… in the stalls, there is of course now also room for more tourist attractive items.
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31 comments:
A good place for collectors of old papers, magazines, and cards to go shopping. They even have some erotic antique photo cards!!! WOW!
superbe serie, mais ce weekend, c'etait pas un temps a mettre un bouquiniste dehors.
A great place to spend part of Sunday...I love the turning and fallen leaves, too.
Hermoso blog, te sigo.
besitos para ti que Dios te bendiga
Ah, who wouldn't like to spend an afternoon browsing their stands... at least today we can do it virtually... thanks to you...
Yes I remembered buying some postcards along the way too and I think that's the essence of Paris :)
Lovely place to browse! thanks Peter as usual for something unusual.
The bouquinistes are a favourite haunt of mine when I'm in Paris. I love the old books, magazines and postcards. In fact Paris has some wonderful old book shops where is usually while away wonderful afternoons...
Thank you Peter for taking me back there this afternoon, just lovely!
Take care
Shane
My darling ganddaughter has had those teeth removed and she is bouncing about good as new now!!
That looks like a wonderful place to go to!
I bought ,ages ago, a copy of "The great Gatsby"
Even with the rain that is such a good way to spend a weekend afternoon! Thanks for the stroll.
Glad to be back.
Peter:
Merci -- I would enjoy browsing and perhaps buying --- it would be a nice amusement to pass the gray sky afternoon away then go to a cafe and read and chat and have a coffee or hot chocolate.
Love the photo's of the closed bouquinistes in the first group of photo's interesting camera angle, and of course love the inside contents .
cheers,
joanny
I loved these places, took me a long time to walk from one end to the other, stopping and browsing when something else caught my eye. I never knew they were called Bourquinistes, another thing learnt today :-)
Take Care Anne
book.. book... love it. wondering, when will i can visit paris....:)
These are really beautiful images - love the combination of books and autumn colours. I'm delighted to find your blog (via the Millstone), will definitely be back.
I love Paris in the fall and with your photos, even more so!
Bela reportagem...Espectacular....
Cumprimentos
There is something very melancholic about these photos. The dying leaves falling to the ground, and perhaps a page turning in the history of Paris. It seems that these stalls are run only by ageing men today, with little sign of a younger generation willing to take them over.
Oh, and congratulations for becoming a 'Blog of Note' too! I see it has produced an explosion in the number of your followers!
And what did you buy?
Perhaps i would visit this place every day Peter, depending on the money in my pocket. There is no authrised and organised way here in my city of Chennai. They sell old books and magazines on the pavements. Often harassed by the police. Rain is their enemy. Perhaps they pray for sunshine always, so there is hardly any rain in my city, rains just for a couple of days here.
UNESCO world heritage site should be a blessing for book lovers of Paris and even for the tourists.
Very interesting place, do you use to buy books there?I'm so happy because I'm reading French books now and I can understand! hehehe
The weather looks cold, here it's not so good, it's raining a lot! :(
Have a nice week,
hugs
Léia
It was late September when I visited Paris a long time ago and the crowds of tourists had thinned so the books and magazines were well to be seen and looked at.
Count me as one of your new followers thanks to "Blog of Note." I am so grateful I happened to browse it that day. I lived for only a year in Paris, but it's the kind of city that lives indelible prints on your heart, so I find your photos of the uniqueness of daily life there a wonderful way to remind me of what I'm missing. Plus, I'm finally going back next year after a decade away, and the Parisien d'un Jour tours look very intriguing.
Bonne continuation, Alison
Beautiful, nostalgic shots. I'm right there. Thanks.
The bouquinistes are fun to browse. Thanks Peter for the blog, your perspective of Paris is very interesting.
Rob
http://rob-a-paris.blogspot.com/
I always love to read your blog it is always so interesting.
Although November's days look little bit glum,
but your great photos show always the beauty of Paris in every area of Parisian's life.
I'd like to take a walk among those books. Certainly it would be a long walk ...
As usual, very nice to visit your blog. Really very nice.
Thank you Peter!
Love the falling leaves on the roofs! I spent some time here my last day in Paris last June. I found some nice prints for very few euros. Now I wish I'd spent more time there. My next visit, I will go there first!
V
Les bouquinistes des quai, à l'instar de leurs collègues taxi, sont souvent pas très aimables. C'est dommage. Dommage aussi de ne plus pouvoir feuilleter leurs livres, la plupart étant sous cellophane.
I've found some true gems there; but so much recently...
I found some really beautiful books at the bouquinistes next to the pont neuf. They are located next to a lady that specialises in old fashion magazine. She knows her stuff too. Spend a couple of hours just chatting and flicking through books before selecting a couple to take home.
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