Though it doesn’t have a direct translation in English, the Japanese concept of ‘tsundoku’ – which describes people who buy more books than they can feasibly read – is something a lot of us can relate to. And bookshops, with their cosiness, charm and warmth, are mostly to blame.
But not all bookshops were created equal, and that’s why the awards team at 1000 Libraries decided to rank the world’s most beautiful ones.
Nineteen different stores were nominated for their hard work in keeping book-buying alive (based on metrics like online reviews and social media engagement), and a vote was opened for 60 days where more than 200,000 opinions were recorded.
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So, where is the prettiest place to buy books on the planet? Well, according to this ranking, it’s (drum roll, please) Boakhandel Dominicanen!
That’s right: the Maastricht shop stacked above Shakespeare and Company in Paris and Daunt Books in London to claim the top spot. But, are we really that surprised? Well, given this bookshop is housed in a thirteenth-century Gothic church with towering vaulted ceilings and a grand steel bookcase, no, not really.
‘The store offers a wide range of books, including English titles, as well as a music section with CDs and vinyl records. It also has a café, where cultural events like readings and live music performances take place, organized by Boekhandel Dominicanen in collaboration with the café,’ reads the 1000 Libraries roundup.
But there are plenty more bookshops to flick through, so read on for the full top 10.
These are the world’s 10 most beautiful bookshops
- Boekhandel Dominicanen, Maastricht
- Shakespeare and Company, Paris
- El Ateneo Grand Splendid, Buenos Aires
- The Gently Mad Bookshop, Edinburgh
- Word on the Water, London
- Dujiangyan Zhongshuge, Chengdu
- Eterna Cadencia, Buenos Aires
- Daunt Books, London
- Albertine Books, New York
- The Last Bookstore, Los Angeles
Oh, and here’s our shiny new roundup of the world’s most beautiful buildings.
Plus: This Slovenian lake has been named the most beautiful destination in Europe.
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