Johann Hunt
Around the world, you’ll find only a few places that celebrate literature and reading in the best possible way. If you’re a bibliophile, you’d love to visit these ten destinations filled with things that will make it an unforgettable experience for your old-school soul.
Hay-On-Wye, Wales
Imagine a place where novels fill every nook and cranny. In 1961, Hay-on-Wye earned the title of the world’s first bibliophiles’ paradise, with over 20 independent bookstores lining its streets. Its famous “Hay Festival of Literature and Arts” draws personalities like Margaret Atwood and Stephen Fry.
Montolieu, France
This picturesque French village is all about art and storytelling. Since the 1990s, Montolieu has been a sanctuary for book artisans. It has a bookbinding museum and workshops for hand-printed texts. The town cherishes its cultural heritage through immersive events that merge narratives with visual arts.
Wigtown, Scotland
A retreat that reinvented itself through literature, Wigtown became Scotland’s official book sanctuary in 1998. Here, “The Open Book” allows visitors to run a bookstore for a week. Each fall, the Wigtown Book Festival brings together historians, poets, and fiction lovers in its centuries-old buildings.
Óbidos, Portugal
Portugal’s Óbidos is well known for its historic sites, which include a 700-year-old church. Declared a UNESCO Creative City of Literature, it also hosts a storytelling tradition that fills its cobblestone streets with live readings and performances.
Redu, Belgium
Redu is a farming hamlet turned literary paradise! With a rare and special collection of second-hand books, it attracts collectors searching for many sought-after prints. The town’s “Night of Books” celebration fills the air with music, verse, and candlelit reading sessions.
Bredevoort, Netherlands
Since 1993, Bredevoort has flourished as a retreat for literature lovers. This Dutch treasure brings stories to life through vibrant outdoor literary fairs, where rare first editions fill historic courtyards. You can even stay in literary-themed lodgings!
Stratford-upon-Avon, England
Here, the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust houses one of the world’s most important collections of Shakespeare-related artifacts, including early editions of his works. While some items are accessible to visitors, certain rare manuscripts are reserved for research purposes, limiting public access at times.
Paraty, Brazil
Set against lush green mountains and colonial streets, Paraty’s FLIP event is a global literary attraction. Nobel Prize winners and emerging authors gather for discussions in intimate courtyard settings. By night, spoken-word performances and storytelling sessions light up this riverside retreat.
Hobart, Australia
Hobart is steeped in storytelling history and is home to the country’s oldest library, founded in 1849. Independent bookstores stock hard-to-find Tasmanian texts here. Hobart also hosts cultural and literary events year-round, which include debates, readings, and book launches at the lively Salamanca Market.
Bath, England
Famous for its elegant Georgian architecture, Bath is forever linked to Jane Austen, who lived here in the early 19th century. The celebrated “Jane Austen Festival” fills the city with regency-clad enthusiasts. Its centuries-old bookstores carry treasured Austen editions, too.