Quai des Bouquinistes

An open-air book market by the Marne

Every first weekend of July, the Quai des Bouquinistes transforms the banks of the Marne in Joinville into a vast open-air literary market. Set up on the quai des Peceaux and in the Parc du Cavé, around forty exhibitors — professional booksellers, specialized dealers, publishers, and associations — offer antique books, second-hand works, comics, magazines, prints, and bibliophile curiosities at accessible prices.

Authors and creators present

The Quai des Bouquinistes hosts numerous regional and national authors each year, who come to present and sign their works. Writers from Haute-Marne, the Grand Est region, and beyond come to meet their readers in a friendly and relaxed atmosphere. The event also highlights local associations focused on genealogy, philately, cartography, and the heritage of Haute-Marne.

A rich and varied cultural program

Beyond the book market, the Quai des Bouquinistes offers a program of activities for all ages. Visitors can enjoy:

• Concerts and musical performances: performances by the music school, quartets, local bands
• Costumed shows: theatrical parades inspired by La Fontaine's Fables
• Children's workshops: readings, creative workshops, balloon sculpting, and outdoor games
• Nautical activities: pedal boat rides on the Marne canal

An event rooted in Joinville's heritage

A Petite Cité de Caractère nestled in the heart of the Marne valley, Joinville offers a remarkable historical and natural setting for this event. The quai des Peceaux, lined with century-old trees along the water, is ideally suited for literary strolls. Organized in cooperation by the municipal library, the town's elected officials, and associations grouped under the Vall'Âges label, this event has become an unmissable summer fixture in Haute-Marne, attracting exhibitors from Loiret, Haute-Saône, Troyes, Dijon, Bar-le-Duc, Chaumont, and Saint-Dizier.

Institutional support

The Quai des Bouquinistes benefits from the support of the Centre national du livre and is part of the Ministry of Culture's Partir en Livre program, demonstrating the quality and ambition of this rural literary event.