Book Fair and its Art Crafts

The meeting place for book art crafts

Since 2015, the Anima Libri fair has brought together artisans and artists who keep the art crafts of the book alive every February in Montreuil-Bellay. Created on the initiative of the Anima Libri association, this unique fair in France brings together around 70 exhibitors from all over France and Europe — Spain, Italy, Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, Great Britain — to showcase their exceptional know-how related to the book.

A complete overview of book crafts

The Anima Libri fair offers an exhaustive overview of the crafts related to art books: bookbinding, illumination, calligraphy, engraving, illustration, gilding, papermaking, typography, restoration of old books. Visitors can admire the creations of the artisans, attend demonstrations of ancestral techniques, and discover suppliers of tools and raw materials. Courses and workshops are also offered to introduce visitors to the professionals' techniques.

An exceptional heritage setting

The fair takes place in Montreuil-Bellay, a medieval town in the Saumurois region dominated by its thousand-year-old castle. In 2025, the 10th edition celebrated the millennium of the castle and the 10th anniversary of the fair with over 75 exhibitors and an exceptional program around this double anniversary. The heritage setting of Montreuil-Bellay, listed among the "Petites Cités de Caractère" (Small Towns of Character), enhances the unique atmosphere of this fair where architectural heritage and artisanal heritage echo each other.

A fair recognized at the European level

Anima Libri has established itself in a few years as the reference for fairs dedicated to the art crafts of the book in France. Its European reach, the quality of its exhibitors, and the richness of its program make it an unmissable event for industry professionals and informed amateurs alike. The fair actively contributes to the promotion and transmission of these excellent crafts, a living heritage of European book culture.