Some towns have transformed themselves into literary destinations where bookstores outnumber coffee shops, and authors outnumber tourists during peak season. These communities have discovered that celebrating literature creates sustainable tourism while preserving local culture and supporting independent businesses that larger cities often cannot maintain. The result is a network of small towns where book lovers can spend entire weekends browsing rare editions, attending author readings, and participating in literary festivals that rival big-city events.
These bookstore towns prove that literature tourism can revitalize communities while creating authentic experiences that corporate chains cannot replicate. Here is a list of 17 towns that have built their identities around celebrating books and the writers who create them.
Hay-on-Wye
This Welsh border townhouses over 30 bookstores within a population of fewer than 2,000 residents, creating the world’s highest concentration of books per capita. The town declared itself an independent kingdom in 1977 as a publicity stunt that successfully attracted international attention to its literary offerings.
Annual literary festivals draw authors and readers from across Europe while year-round book sales support local businesses that would otherwise struggle in a remote rural location.
Archer City
Texas writer Larry McMurtry transformed his hometown into a book lover’s paradise by opening multiple bookstores that eventually housed over 450,000 volumes throughout various buildings. The town inspired McMurtry’s novel ‘The Last Picture Show’ and continues to attract literary pilgrims who explore the same streets that influenced his Pulitzer Prize-winning work.
Though McMurtry’s estate has since reduced the collection, the town maintains its literary identity through ongoing book sales and author events.
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Clunes
Australia’s first International Booktown designation transformed this former gold rush settlement into a literary destination that hosts annual book festivals drawing visitors from across the continent. The town’s Victorian-era architecture provides perfect settings for bookstores specializing in everything from rare first editions to contemporary Australian literature.
Local businesses have embraced the literary theme, with cafes and bed-and-breakfasts incorporating book themes into their services.
Redu
Belgium’s smallest book town contains 15 bookstores within a village of fewer than 500 residents, creating an intimate atmosphere where visitors can explore rare books while meeting the shop owners who personally curate their collections. The town specializes in French-language literature while maintaining selections in Dutch, German, and English to serve international visitors.
Annual book festivals celebrate both established and emerging European authors through readings, discussions, and workshops.
Wigtown
Scotland’s National Book Town designation brought new life to this Galloway community through the establishment of multiple bookstores and a successful annual book festival. The town’s 18th-century buildings house shops specializing in Scottish literature, rare books, and contemporary fiction while supporting local authors who find inspiration in the surrounding countryside.
Literary events throughout the year maintain community engagement beyond the peak festival season.
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Langenberg
Germany’s book town emerged from local initiatives to preserve the community’s cultural heritage through literature-focused tourism and education. Multiple bookstores occupy historic buildings while hosting author readings, book launches, and literary discussions that engage both residents and visitors.
The town’s location in North Rhine-Westphalia provides access to major German cities while maintaining a small-town atmosphere conducive to quiet reading and literary contemplation.
Sysmä
Finland’s literary town combines bookstores with cultural events that celebrate both Finnish literature and international authors translated into Finnish. The community’s commitment to literacy extends beyond book sales to include writing workshops, literary translation projects, and educational programs for visiting students.
Lake-country surroundings inspire writers while creating peaceful environments for extended reading sessions.
Mundal
Norway’s book town occupies a fjord-side location where a historic hotel has been transformed into a literary destination housing thousands of books alongside guest accommodations. The town’s isolation creates perfect conditions for reading retreats, while summer festivals bring authors and readers together in one of Europe’s most scenic locations.
Ancient Nordic literary traditions blend with contemporary Scandinavian literature to create unique cultural experiences.
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Becherel
France’s livre village (book village) contains multiple bookstores and hosts monthly book markets that transform the medieval town center into outdoor literary celebrations. The town’s commitment to book culture extends beyond commercial sales to include literary education programs and support for regional authors.
Historic stone buildings provide atmospheric settings for browsing rare editions and attending intimate author readings.
Fjaerland
Norway’s glacier-region book town houses the Norwegian Glacier Museum alongside multiple bookstores that specialize in environmental literature and Nordic authors. The town’s dramatic mountain setting inspires nature writers while creating unique backdrops for literary events and festivals.
The town remains accessible year-round, even during harsh winters—demonstrating its deep commitment to literary culture in every season.
Óbidos
Portugal’s medieval walled city transformed itself into a Literary City through UNESCO designation and year-round programming that celebrates Portuguese literature alongside international authors translated into Portuguese. Historic buildings within the fortress walls house bookstores and cultural centers, while annual festivals bring together established and emerging writers.
The town’s commitment to literacy includes educational programs that serve regional communities beyond tourist seasons.
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Torup
Denmark’s Booktown combines traditional bookstore culture with modern literary programming that includes author residencies, writing workshops, and international literature exchanges. The community’s small size creates intimate settings for literary events while supporting local authors who contribute to both Danish literature and international literary translation projects.
Rural surroundings provide peaceful environments for extended reading and writing retreats.
Tvedestrand
Norway’s coastal book townhouses have multiple bookstores within a historic seaport setting that has inspired Norwegian maritime literature for centuries. The town’s literary festivals combine reading celebrations with cultural events that showcase regional traditions and contemporary Norwegian authors.
Waterfront locations provide scenic backdrops for outdoor literary events during summer months, while cozy bookstores offer winter refuges for serious readers.
Montolieu
France’s village du livre demonstrates how small communities can revitalize local economies through book culture and literary tourism. Multiple bookstores occupy historic buildings while workshops and cultural events maintain year-round engagement with literature and arts.
The town’s location in Languedoc wine country creates opportunities for combining literary tourism with regional culinary experiences
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Urueña
Spain’s medieval Villa del Libro houses multiple bookstores within restored historic buildings that preserve the town’s architectural heritage while supporting contemporary literary culture. The community hosts annual book festivals that celebrate both Spanish literature and international authors translated into Spanish.
Educational programs serve regional schools while maintaining the town’s commitment to promoting literacy throughout surrounding rural areas.
Kampong Cham
Cambodia’s emerging booktown represents efforts to rebuild the literary culture in post-conflict societies through community-based bookstores and literacy programs. Local initiatives combine book sales with educational outreach that serves both urban and rural populations throughout the region.
The town’s development as a literary destination demonstrates how book culture can contribute to community healing and economic development.
Stillwater
Minnesota’s historic river town has embraced its connection to literary culture through independent bookstores, author events, and annual festivals that celebrate both regional and national literature. The community’s commitment to supporting independent publishers and local authors creates opportunities for emerging writers while maintaining connections to established literary traditions.
Scenic St. Croix River settings inspire writers while creating attractive destinations for literary tourists.
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Words That Build Communities
These bookstore towns demonstrate how literature can serve as the foundation for sustainable community development that preserves local culture while attracting visitors who share genuine interests in books and reading. Each community has found unique ways to balance commercial success with authentic literary culture, creating destinations that serve both residents and tourists seeking meaningful cultural experiences.
The most successful bookstore towns recognize that literature tourism requires an ongoing commitment to supporting authors, readers, and independent bookstores that bring them together in spaces that corporate chains cannot replicate.
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