This post was suggested by Joanne Allen.

Redu

The first Book Town established on the “Continent”, Redu Village du Livre was founded in 1984. Today there are twenty-four bookshops, offering antiquarian and secondhand titles, in the little, thousand year-old village of 500 nestled in the Ardennes.

Redu attracts more than 300,000 bibliophiles a year to the otherwise sleepy village. The best time to visit is in August, when the Nuit du Livre is held. Village shops and restaurants stay open all night and there’s music and fireworks.

Along with terrific bookshops, Redu boasts many artisanal shops selling baked good, food, soap and clothing.

Redu weekend market