Shakespeare and Company (bookstore)
Area Historic English-language bookstore and literary hub in Paris
English-language bookstore on Paris’s Left Bank near Notre-Dame, known for secondhand books, readings and a storied literary history. Visitors browse shelves, attend events and photograph the façade.
Shakespeare and Company is an English-language bookstore in Paris, located on the Left Bank close to Notre-Dame Cathedral. Founded in 1951 by George Whitman, it became an important meeting place for anglophone writers and readers in the postwar decades and retains a literary cultural role today.
The shop contains a retail section, a lending library of used books and spaces for readings, workshops and small literary events. It is also known for offering temporary lodging to young writers and travelers in past decades, a practice that contributed to its bohemian reputation.
The name and literary lineage link back to an earlier 20th century bookstore run by Sylvia Beach, but the present shop has its own history and collections dating from the mid 20th century. It sits in Paris’s Latin Quarter and is a frequent stop for literature-focused visitors.
- Location and function: The shop stands on the Left Bank near Notre-Dame and combines a retail bookstore with a small reading library and public events program.
How to Get to Shakespeare and Company (bookstore) #
Shakespeare and Company is at 37 rue de la Bûcherie on the Île de la Cité/Latin Quarter in central Paris. The nearest major stop is Saint-Michel-Notre-Dame (RER B and C) - about a 2-3 minute walk; Saint-Michel (Metro line 4) and Cluny-La Sorbonne (line 10) are also within a short stroll.
From Notre-Dame or the Seine embankment it’s a one- to five-minute walk; driving is not recommended in the city center - use metro/RER and walk.
Tips for Visiting Shakespeare and Company (bookstore) #
- Arrive at opening on a weekday morning to avoid the line outside the narrow shop; the doorway on Rue de la Bûcherie is the primary entrance and the interior fills quickly.
- Take time to explore the upstairs reading rooms and the back-room nooks - many visitors focus only on photos at the door and miss the period interiors, author inscriptions and the shop's curated second‑hand and rare-book sections.
- Check the shop's hours on its official site before you go (special events and readings can change opening times) and plan any book purchases or browsing early, as the interior capacity is small and staff may limit the number of customers.
Best Time to Visit Shakespeare and Company (bookstore) #
For a more peaceful visit to this famous Paris bookstore go in shoulder months or weekday mornings; summer and holiday periods are busiest.
Weather & Climate near Shakespeare and Company (bookstore) #
Shakespeare and Company (bookstore)'s climate is classified as Oceanic - Oceanic climate with warm summers (peaking in July) and cold winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from 2°C to 25°C. Moderate rainfall (675 mm/year), distributed fairly evenly throughout the year.
January
January is the coolest month with highs of 7°C and lows of 2°C. Moderate rainfall (54 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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February
February is cold with highs of 8°C and lows of 2°C. Moderate rainfall (49 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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March
March is cold with highs of 12°C and lows of 4°C. Moderate rainfall (63 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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April
April is cool with highs of 15°C and lows of 6°C. Moderate rainfall (58 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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May
May is cool with highs of 20°C and lows of 10°C. The wettest month with 64 mm of rain and mostly overcast skies.
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June
June is cool with highs of 22°C and lows of 13°C. Moderate rainfall (56 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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July
July is the warmest month with highs of 25°C and lows of 15°C. Moderate rainfall (60 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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August
August is the warmest month with highs of 25°C and lows of 15°C. Moderate rainfall (44 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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September
September is cool with highs of 21°C and lows of 12°C. Moderate rainfall (54 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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October
October is cool with highs of 16°C and lows of 9°C. Moderate rainfall (61 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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November
November is cold with highs of 11°C and lows of 5°C. Moderate rainfall (55 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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December
December is cold with highs of 8°C and lows of 3°C. Moderate rainfall (57 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
