Buzz
The idea of a book town originated in the 1960s when Hay-on-Wye, a quaint market town straddling the Welsh-English border, revitalized itself through the magic of books. This innovative approach to rejuvenating struggling villages and towns by establishing secondhand bookstores and hosting literary events has since inspired numerous locations globally, forming a network of captivating destinations centered around books.
1. HAY-ON-WYE, WALES
In 1961, Richard Booth, an enterprising individual, launched a secondhand bookshop in the small town of Hay-on-Wye, home to around 1,600 residents. The shop quickly gained popularity and expanded to become one of the largest in Europe. This success spurred the opening of numerous other specialized and secondhand bookstores, revitalizing the local economy and establishing the town as a haven for book lovers. To solidify Hay-on-Wye's reputation as the world's first book town, a literary festival was introduced in 1987. Today, it stands as the UK's premier literary event, attracting 250,000 book enthusiasts annually.
2. BREDEVOORT, NETHERLANDS
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Bredevoort, a charming medieval town in the Netherlands with a population of approximately 1,525, earned its status as a book town in 1993 thanks to its collection of over 20 secondhand and antiquarian bookstores. On the third Saturday of each month, the town square comes alive with a book market, drawing booksellers from across the nation to offer English, German, and Dutch titles. As a founding member of the International Organisation of Book Towns, Bredevoort also organizes numerous literary events to bolster its book-centric economy.
3. REDU, BELGIUM
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In 1979, Noel Anselot, a villager, returned from a visit to Hay-on-Wye with a vision to revitalize his small village in Belgium's picturesque Ardennes region (population: around 500) by attracting booksellers. He reached out to numerous bookdealers, encouraging them to establish shops in the village's original structures, such as barns, houses, and sheds, to preserve its historic charm. The initiative flourished, and today, Redu is home to 17 bookstores specializing in secondhand books and comics. The village hosts various book-related events and exhibitions annually, including a book night where shops remain open until dawn. Officially recognized as a book town in 1984 after its first book festival, Redu further solidified its status as continental Europe's first book town by twinning with Hay-on-Wye.
4. HOBART, NEW YORK
In 1999, this charming Catskills town (population: approximately 440) was nearly abandoned, with only a dilapidated diner operating. Local resident Don Dales saw potential and began purchasing vacant storefronts. Inspired by the success of an antiquarian bookshop, Dales opened two additional bookstores in 2004. Today, Hobart boasts six bookshops offering everything from cookbooks to rare children's literature, alongside an annual Festival of Women Writers. It has rapidly become a popular weekend getaway for book enthusiasts from New York.
5. FJAERLAND, NORWAY
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Nestled among Norway's breathtaking fjords, Fjaerland (population: around 300) is one of the world's most secluded book towns. Before 1994, when a road was constructed, the village was accessible only by boat. Its tiny village charm is enhanced by bookshops housed in repurposed buildings like old stables, grocery stores, post offices, and ferry waiting rooms. Due to its remote location and unpredictable Norwegian weather, the book town welcomes visitors only from May to September.
6. WIGTOWN, SCOTLAND
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Wigtown (population: approximately 1,000) has held the title of Scotland's national book town since 1998. After the closure of its primary employers, a creamery and a whiskey distillery, the town faced decline. However, its fortunes changed when Wigtown won a national competition, defeating five other towns, to become Scotland's only book town. Booksellers flocked to the area, establishing over twenty bookshops and launching a highly successful literary festival, ensuring the town's revival.
