Festival Quartier du Livre

The Latin Quarter, cradle of French literature

The Festival Quartier du Livre is rooted in the 5th arrondissement of Paris, the historic Latin Quarter where the capital's major publishing houses, legendary bookshops, and literary institutions have been concentrated for centuries. From rue des Écoles to place de la Contrescarpe, from the Sorbonne to the Panthéon, the festival takes over this historic territory to create an open-air literary trail, blending heritage and contemporary creation.

A free and participatory festival

Created in 2016 on the initiative of the Mairie du 5e arrondissement (Town Hall of the 5th arrondissement), the festival is distinguished by its complete freeness and its participatory spirit. Over two hundred events are offered over nine days: author meetings in bookshops, public readings in gardens, writing workshops, guided literary walks, round tables, performances, and exhibitions. The bookshops, libraries, cafés, and cultural venues in the district become stages where literature is experienced and shared.

2025 Edition: Ten Years of Literature in the Streets

The 2025 edition of the Festival Quartier du Livre, its 10th anniversary, took place from June 3 to 11, 2025. For this jubilee edition, the festival offered over two hundred free events throughout the Latin Quarter, featuring meetings with leading authors, open-air readings in the Luxembourg and square Viviani gardens, writing workshops for all ages, and literary walks retracing the steps of the district's great writers.

A network of emblematic venues

The festival relies on a network of emblematic venues in the 5th arrondissement: the Buffon library, the Maison de la Mutualité, the independent bookshops on rue Mouffetard and rue des Écoles, the Jardin des Plantes, the square René-Viviani opposite Notre-Dame, and numerous literary cafés. This presence within the district's urban fabric gives the festival its unique character: literature leaves the salons to meet residents and passers-by.

A bridge between generations and literatures

The Festival Quartier du Livre aims to be a bridge between generations and literary genres. Novels, poetry, essays, graphic novels, children's literature, crime fiction, and science fiction are represented through an eclectic program that mixes established authors and emerging voices, French literature and world literatures. Specific workshops for young audiences and intergenerational meetings make the festival a truly family-friendly event.