Paris - The Latin Quarter

Soak up the culture of Paris in its oldest and most scenic quarter, from an English bookshop to gardens fit for a queen

- By Hannah Brandler. Photographs by Paris Tourist Office, Jaques Lebas, Daniel Thierry, Studio TTG, Sarah Sergent and Romain Buisson

1 SHAKESPEARE AND COMPANY

This independent English-language bookshop at 37 Rue de la Bûcherie is a perfect introduction to the city’s left bank area, known for its literary heritage. Founded by the American George Whitman in 1951 in homage to the original shop owned by Sylvia Beach, it has become a haunt for literary ex-pats and “tumbleweeds” – the nickname given to the 30,000 writers and artists who have stayed here overnight at no cost in exchange for reading a book a day, helping at the shop and writing a one-page autobiography. It’s a charming maze, with old wooden shelves stacked aplenty, quotes are drawn from their pages plastered on the walls, and nooks and crannies for peaceful reading. Head upstairs to check out the serene reading library, a piano (where Aggie the cat occasionally plays some keys), and a ‘Mirror of Love’ clad with messages from visiting bibliophiles. Plus, the shop holds free author talks, with previous guests including Zadie Smith and Michael Morpurgo. Purchase a book here, have it stamped by the bookshop as memorabilia, and begin your literary adventure at its adjoining café. After a difficult year of lockdowns, the shop launched a ‘Friends of Shakespeare and Company’ one-year membership – find out more at shakespeareandcompany.com

2 LA SORBONNE