Les Bouquinistes de la Rive Gauche

Everyone has heard of the Bouquinistes de Paris, the booksellers who sell used and antiquarian books along the banks of the river Seine that runs through Paris. There are the bouquinistes on the left bank or the Rive Gauche and those on the right bank of the river, or the Rive Droite. The Rive Gauche is the Southern bank of the Seine.

Beside used and antiquarian books - which you can certainly find here - they also sell prints, photography, magnets and locks, since the bouquinistes on this side of the river, right across from Notre Dame, are so close to the Pont de l'Archevêché, a bridge that is loaded with love locks and a huge magnet for tourists (that might be a later post).

The photos for sale are mainly black and white photography, something that fits so well with Paris.

As you can see at this booth, there are a lot of trinkets for sale as well. After all this is a tourist area and of course the bouquinistes like to have a piece of that cake as well - who can blame them?

It's lovely and very relaxing to stroll around, browse some used books and enjoy the view of Notre Dame behind the stalls.

Teenagers love to hang out on the low wall between the stalls, with the medieval grand cathedral in the background...