An Iconic Bookstore In Paris Allows Travelers To Sleep In The Shop Overnight For Free

Nestled on a beautiful street in the heart of Paris, in the shadow of the majestic Notre Dame Cathedral and steps from the banks of the River Seine, you'll find an enchanting bookshop with a storybook-like history that has inspired writers and bibliophiles for generations. Shakespeare and Company is located on a historic street in Paris, Rue de la Bûcherie, near Kilometer Zero, which is the place where all the roads in France begin. This bookstore has a small café serving up French pastries, hot chocolate, and delicious coffee, an antique bookstore with a separate entrance, and a shop selling English-language books from famous authors and up-and-coming writers alike.

"I created this bookstore like a man would write a novel, building each room like a chapter, and I like people to open the door the way they open a book, a book that leads into a magic world in their imaginations," said founder George Whitman (via Shakespeare and Company's website). The world he created within his shop is magical indeed, and it remains a bucket list destination for book lovers. It's well worth a visit, even if you only have a one-day trip to Paris. 

The charming bookstore features quotes from famous authors, poets, and philosophers painted by hand along the walls and stairways. Small benches are scattered among the stacks so that you can take a seat and dive into the stories before purchasing a new book. Upstairs, you'll find a large free library that makes you want to curl in a quiet corner and get lost in a good story. Over the years, aspiring writers have found solace sleeping among the stacks within Shakespeare and Company. Today, you can apply to be a guest (known as a "tumbleweed"), and if you're accepted you'll enjoy free accommodations in one of the most iconic neighborhoods in Paris.

Shakespeare and Company was founded in 1951 by George Whitman, an American living in Paris. The building that the bookstore occupies was once a monastery called La Maison du Mustier. George Whitman likened himself to the monks who once lived there, seemingly carrying on their tradition of lighting a lamp at nightfall. "In the Middle Ages, each monastery had a frère lampier, a monk whose duty was to light the lamps at nightfall. I'm the frère lampier here now. It's the modest role I play," he once wrote.

He changed the name from Le Mistral to Shakespeare and Company in 1964 to honor of Sylvia Beach, who owned a bookshop by that name that she opened in 1919. Her bookstore became a popular gathering place for iconic writers like Ernest Hemingway, James Joyce, and F. Scott Fitzgerald. George Whitman aimed to create a similar gathering space for a new generation. His bookstore was a hub for writers like Allen Ginsberg, William Burroughs, Anaïs Nin, Henry Miller, and James Baldwin, along with many others.

For decades, George Whitman opened the doors of his bookstore to anyone who needed a place to rest their head in Paris. When he was a young man, he spent time traveling around Mexico in Central America and was inspired by the generosity and empathy he experienced from strangers around the world. His travels helped him to develop his philosophy, which remains prominently displayed within the bookstore today: "Be not inhospitable to strangers lest they be angels in disguise." 

Many writers, artists, and intellectuals who needed a place to stay in Paris over the years have received a warm welcome at Shakespeare and Company. The bookstore's guests were known as "tumbleweeds," and the only requirement was that they had to read at least a book a day and work for a few hours each day in the bookshop. Before departing, they were asked to write a one-page autobiography to leave behind, which were then archived within the bookstore. Tumbleweeds slept on makeshift benches and beds among the stacks of books and spent their time honing their craft and enjoying one of the world's most romantic cities. According to the Shakespeare and Company website, over 30,000 writers and artists have stayed there.

George Whitman passed away in his apartment above the shop in 2011 and left Shakespeare and Company in the hands of his daughter Sylvia. She has continued his legacy, adding her own flare with literary festivals and special events that take place throughout the year. She has also continued to offer accommodations to tumbleweeds.

Today, tumbleweeds are required to apply ahead of time. If accepted, you'll enjoy a cozy studio with a private bathroom and views of Paris. You are no longer required to read a book a day or work in the bookshop, but you are asked to help out with special events. An autobiography for the archives is still a requirement, however. Most tumbleweeds stay for a minimum of a week or as long as a month. Additional guests are not permitted to stay with you. The goal of the experience is to give writers the time and space to dive into their creative work, and you are asked to refrain from posting about your time on social media or writing articles about your experience.