Tours Book Fair - Livres en Loire

The major book event in Tours

The Tours Book Fair - Livres en Loire has become, in just a few years, an unmissable literary event in the Centre-Val de Loire region. Organized every November in the prestigious setting of the Opéra de Tours, rue de la Scellerie, it attracts thousands of book lovers and curious visitors eager to meet authors and discover literature.

An association committed to reading

The fair is driven by the association Livres en Loire, whose missions go far beyond organizing an annual event:

• Promote reading and writing of books in all its forms
• Combat illiteracy by facilitating access to books for all
• Enhance the French language through literary awards and public dictations
• Organize cultural events: literary dinners, literary cafés, conferences, and meetings throughout the year
• Create intergenerational exchanges around books and reading
• Collect books to make them accessible to everyone

A rich program at the Opéra de Tours

The Book Fair takes place over a full day at the Opéra de Tours and offers:

• Signings: dozens of authors present to sign their works and interact with readers
• Literary encounters: privileged moments of exchange with writers
• Prix Honoré de Balzac: a literary prize awarded during the fair, paying homage to the famous writer from Tours
• Bookstore space: sale of various works, from novels to poetry, including children's literature and essays

The Opéra de Tours: a prestigious setting for literature

The Opéra de Tours (Grand Théâtre), located at 34 rue de la Scellerie, is an emblematic building in the city center of Tours. This prestigious venue, usually dedicated to lyrical arts and performing arts, offers an exceptional setting to host the book fair. Its elegant and bright spaces allow for the optimal display of author and publisher stands, creating an atmosphere conducive to literary discovery.

Balzac, Tours, and literature

By awarding the Prix Honoré de Balzac, the fair pays homage to the most illustrious writer from Tours. Born in Tours in 1799, Balzac set many of his works in Touraine for La Comédie humaine. The fair is part of this literary tradition by making Tours a vibrant place for creation and sharing around books.