Shakespeare and Company

　　Shakespeare and Company are two independent bookstores in Paris’s Left Bank, France. The first was opened by Sylvia Beach in 1919 and became a gathering place for numerous writers during the 1920s, such as Ezra Pound, Ernest Hemingway, James Joyce, and Ford Madox Ford. This bookstore closed during the German occupation of Paris in 1940 and has never reopened at that location since.

　　The second Shakespeare and Company is located in the 5th arrondissement of Paris. It was opened by George Whitman and was originally named “Le Mistral.” In honor of Sylvia Beach’s bookstore, it was renamed Shakespeare and Company in 1964. The current bookstore functions both as a retail bookstore and a reading library, especially for English literature, and has appeared in films such as "Before Sunset" and "Midnight in Paris." The walls are lined with floor-to-ceiling shelves packed tightly with books, leaving no visible gaps — it seems as if the walls are built entirely out of books. This legendary bookstore continues to this day, not only being the largest English-language bookstore in Paris but also recognized as a cultural institute by the French Ministry of Culture, making it a must-visit attraction in Paris.

　　Shakespeare and Company is beloved by French literati, attracting literary enthusiasts from around the world. Many world-famous figures have visited the bookstore, adding to its mystique.

　　Shakespeare and Company Reason to visit: One of the world’s most renowned bookstores Continent: Europe【Europe】 Country/Region: France[France] Province/State: Ile-de-France Region [Ile-de-France Region] City: Paris [Paris]