The independent booksellers lining the picturesque embankments of the River Seine in Paris are an attraction for tourists and lovers of old books alike, some of whom come to browse the quintessentially Parisian green boxes for hours at a time.
The booksellers in their present form have existed since 1891, when traders were first allowed to store their goods in lockable boxes overnight on the quays, though people have been selling books on the banks of the Seine for almost five centuries.
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Booksellers at River Seine, Paris
The Parisian booksellers in their present form have existed since 1891, when traders were first allowed to store their goods in lockable boxes overnight on the quays, though people have been selling books on the banks of the Seine for almost five centuries. Photo: Michael Evers/dpa
Many of the stalls currently stand empty, prompting the city to put the vacant spots out to tender and to call on Parisians to support the iconic booksellers. Photo: Michael Evers/dpa
The decision of some booksellers to sell cheap souvenirs and posters from the boxes rather than the classics of French literature has also contributed to the so-called "bouquinistes" losing much of their cachet in recent years. Photo: Michael Evers/dpa
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