12 Must-Visit Book Towns in Europe

As the progenitor of the book town, Europe is home to literary villages and cities of all shapes and sizes.

Alpujarra de la Sierra (Spain)

Ever wonder what cities do with those archaic, unused phone booths? Well, in Alpujarra de la Sierra, they get turned into mini libraries. The area is decorated with little literary elements sure to delight any book lover, from the flower pots designed to look like book covers to the poetry hidden here and there.

Although referred to as a “book town,” the area is actually composed of several towns: Golco, Yegen, Mecina Bombarón, and Montenegro. Much of this (most notably the library phone booths) came about thanks to Alpujarra de la Sierra's mayor, José Antonio Gómez.

Address: Alpujarra de la Sierra, Granada, Spain

Hay-on-Wye (Wales, UK)

Here's a book town that hardly needs an introduction, as it's possibly one of the most famous not just in Europe, but the world. It started with Richard Booth selling secondhand books in the 1960s, and by the 1970s, it became the world’s first book town.

We’ve already written quite a bit on this topic, so I won’t drone on too much. Just know that one of the biggest attractions to this town (aside from its picturesque streets and castle) is the annual Hay Festival that plays host to writers and speakers from across the globe.

Address: Hay-on-Wye, Hereford HR3, UK

Montolieu (France)

Speaking of “picturesque,” that description also suits Montolieu, a book village in southern France with around 800 residents and a dozen independent secondhand bookshops. It also happens to be home to a museum specifically dedicated to book arts and crafts, covering things like bookbinding, typography, calligraphy, marble paper, and so much more. The town also has a number of literary events and art galleries that highlight France’s culturally rich heritage.

Montolieu emphasizes bookmaking alongside bookselling, making it a unique destination even among other book towns.

Address: 11170 Montolieu, France

Wigtown (Scotland, UK)

Though once a struggling rural village, Wigtown turned its fortunes around when it dedicated itself to becoming a literary hotspot. Designated Scotland's National Book Town in 1998, it now has 15 book-related shops and hosts literary events throughout the year, including a children’s book festival, poetry and essay prizes, and bucket loads more.

Its most famous event is the 10-day Wigtown Book Festival, which typically takes place in the fall. It’s packed with activities: fireworks, live music performances, food, and of course, book discussions galore. This year, it will take place from September 26 to October 5, 2025.

Address: Wigtown, Newton Stewart DG8, UK

Fjærland (Norway)

Surrounded by mountains and glaciers, Fjærland has been a book town since 1995 and features around a dozen secondhand bookshops housed in unique locations like old stables, banks, and even fjordside. Altogether, when adding up all the shelves together, they hold roughly 2.5 miles of books—many in Norwegian, with a decent number of English and German.

The creative reuse of historic buildings and stunning natural landscape make it a unique literary destination, one well worth checking out.

Address: Fjærland, Norway

Redu (Belgium)

Fjærland isn’t the only town repurposing old buildings into bookstores—in fact, it’s not even the first. Redu became the first book town in continental Europe in 1984 after booksellers transformed empty barns and schoolhouses into bookshops.

Though the number of bookshops has dwindled from 20 to about a dozen in recent years, it’s still going strong as a haven for bibliophiles. Redu hosts annual book fairs and literary events, attracting over 200,000 visitors a year to this 400-person village.

Address: Redu, 6890 Libin, Belgium

St-Pierre-de-Clages (Switzerland)

Standing as Switzerland’s only official book town, St-Pierre-de-Clages is famed for its medieval charm, 11th-century Romanesque church, and surrounding vineyards. Many of its bookshops are centered around the town square, selling volumes both old and new

However, the town is most famous for its weekly secondhand book market and its annual book festival, Fête du Livre, typically held in August. This year, it will be held August 29-31, 2025. It attracts booksellers, authors, and thousands of visitors for exhibitions and literary events.

Address: Saint-Pierre-de-Clages, 1955 Chamoson, Switzerland

Urueña (Spain)

Enclosed in well-preserved medieval walls and overlooked by a genuine castle, Urueña is Spain’s first official book town. Though only populated with 200 or so residents, it boasts over a dozen book-related establishments. And by book-related, that means more than just bookshops, but also libraries and museums dedicated to literature and publishing.

Not only that, but Urueña hosts literary festivals, workshops, and readings year-round. And on the off-chance you get bored of that, the surrounding views are sure to keep you captivated.

Address: 47862 Urueña, Valladolid, Spain

Óbidos (Portugal)

Óbidos, meanwhile, is a different flavor of medieval walled town. Its conversion into a book town was relatively recent, having begun in 2013  by converting a church and former winery into bookstores. It’s also home to a famous book hotel, The Literary Man Óbidos Hotel.

Amidst the cobblestone streets seemingly pulled right out of a fairy tale, you can find texts in multiple languages, including Portuguese, English, and French. It makes for a multicultural experience for book lovers from all over.

Address: 2510 Óbidos, Portugal

Bredevoort (Netherlands)

What started as a revitalization project for Bredevoort's historic center turned into the Netherlands's National Book Town in 1993. This town is dense with secondhand and antiquarian bookshops, and combined with art galleries and studios, they number around 30 culturally rich spaces with a local population of less than 2,000.

Its monthly book market is another event to note. It takes place every third Saturday, attracting booksellers and bookbinders from around the country.

Address: Bredevoort, Netherlands

Sedbergh (England, UK)

Though somewhat more modest than Hay-on-Wye or Wigtown, two other well-known book towns in the UK, Sedbergh still makes its mark as England’s official book town. And while it only possesses two dedicated bookstores (one of which is an offshoot of a Hay-on-Wye shop), it earns its bookish status by the smattering of bookshelves scattered throughout the town.

Though not as grandiose as some of the other towns on this list, it has a quaint, quiet charm, filled with literary treasures hidden from the wider world.

Address: Sedbergh LA10, UK

Tvedestrand (Norway)

Tvedestrand is the largest book town in the Nordic countries, and is known for its charming white wooden houses and waterfront setting. It features numerous antiquarian and secondhand bookshops along its main street, offering a wide range of both fiction and nonfiction titles. A bit of exploration will unveil a library and a publishing house, as well.

The town hosts literary events year-round, such as the Barnas Bokbysommer—or, Children's Book City Summer, a series of performances and storytimes aimed at kids.

Address: Tvedestrand, Norway