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All France Lille Vieille Bourse Book Market

Vieille Bourse Book Market

Tables of secondhand books fill the inner courtyard of this 17th-century stock exchange.

Lille, France

Added By
Maxence Barré
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The second-hand book market.   Hemis/Alamy
Old books for sale.   Philippe Teuwen/cc by-sa 2.0
Books for sale.   Fabien Lemetayer/cc by 2.0
La Vieille Bourse.   Sablais / Atlas Obscura User
La Vieille Bourse.   Sablais / Atlas Obscura User
Lille - Vieille Bourse   philoursmars / Atlas Obscura User
Lille - Vieille Bourse   philoursmars / Atlas Obscura User
Lille - Vieille Bourse   philoursmars / Atlas Obscura User
Lille - Vieille Bourse   philoursmars / Atlas Obscura User
Lille - Vieille Bourse   philoursmars / Atlas Obscura User
La Vieille Bourse.   Sablais / Atlas Obscura User
La Vieille Bourse de Lille   namelimitsuck / Atlas Obscura User
La Vieille Bourse.   Sablais / Atlas Obscura User
Lille - Vieille Bourse   philoursmars / Atlas Obscura User
Lille - Vieille Bourse   philoursmars / Atlas Obscura User
Lille - Vieille Bourse   philoursmars / Atlas Obscura User
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About

Though not really known outside of France, La Vieille Bourse is an architectural treasure. The grand building was constructed during the 17th century, when the city was under Spanish rule. Now, centuries later, it’s still a vibrant hub for commerce.

Head to its inner courtyard, and you’ll uncover a fabulous market. Here, various vendors line their tables with secondhand books sure to delight any bibliophile. Many of the books are in French, but you’ll find items written in other languages, too.

At the market, you can flip through books from various genres, as well as anything from old dictionaries to antique newspapers. Keep an eye out for the Franco-Belgian comic books, some of which are even written in the local Ch’ti language.

After you’ve snagged a few books, stop to chat with the locals who spend their days playing chess. You may even be invited to join for a game.

The building itself is also worth admiring. The architecture follows a typical Flemish Renaissance style, with color and fantasy shapes meant to depict pagan representations of the city’s commercial life. The mercantile guilds who built the stock exchange put their crests on the walls of the monument, which can still be seen today.

The building is composed of 24 merchant houses, forming the Inner Court, which serves as a calm refuge that contrasts with the bustling streets around it.

Related Tags

Bookstores Books Architecture Markets Shops

Know Before You Go

The book market is open Tuesday through Sunday from 1.00 p.m. to 7.00 p.m. If you're there in the summer, be sure to stick around for some dancing—Tango evenings (open to everyone!) take place on in the inner courtyard on Sundays from July to mid-September. Be reminded that it's open every day during the Christmas holidays.

Community Contributors

Added By

Sablais

Edited By

namelimitsuck, philoursmars, Kerry Wolfe

  • namelimitsuck
  • philoursmars
  • Kerry Wolfe

Published

September 26, 2018

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  • http://www.northernfrance-tourism.com/The-guide/What-to-see/La-Vieille-Bourse-PCUNPDC0003000T2
  • https://www.thegoodlifefrance.com/second-hand-book-market-lille/
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vieille_Bourse
Vieille Bourse Book Market
5 Rue des 7 Agaches
Lille
France
50.637258, 3.064109
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