For literary novices and historians alike, the Shakespeare and Company bookshop is one of those romantic and quirky gems one hopes to find in Paris.
Originally opened by Sylvia Beach and a favourite haunt of Ernest Hemmingway (before closing after World War II) this bookstore is considered a creative institution.
A stone’s throw from Notre Dame, perched on the Left Bank, Shakespeare and Company has housed struggling artists and writers since 1951. Many worked in the bookstore in return for full board; others sold their poems and stories out front.
Today you can purchase a book, listen to a reading or participate in workshops.
Hint: climb the staircase to see where the creative like to congregate.
A full history can be found on their website.
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