If you are a book and culture lover, here's what to know about this lovely little village in the north of France.
In the North of France, precisely in department of Ille-et-Vilaine, in the region of Brittany, a small one is hiding medieval town named Bécherel, built as a small military stronghold, and known today all over the world as "the city of books".
The city of books in Brittany
This nickname was given to him after, in the second half of the 900th century, to recover from an economic and textile crisis, they were hit resources in various cultural projects which led to the birth of 15 bookstores, one for every 44 inhabitants, taking into account that currently the town has only 800.
Over time, this small town, which still retains an architectural charm today, has become European destination for lovers of culture and books, and of pilgrimage for many European bibliophiles.
Its fame as the homeland of the book is also due to the various events that take place here every year. The most important is without doubt "La Fête du Livre" which happens every Easter weekend. During this event, the small village becomes an open-air theater in which practical demonstrations are held to learn the book printing and binding techniques, animated readings in private gardens, itinerant libraries, as well as the traditional market for second-hand antique books.
Among the many bookshops in the streets of this town, the most recommended are obviously "La vache qui litWhich is also a café and thus allows its visitors to enjoy reading a good book at one of its tables, immersed in the tranquility that characterizes Bécherel. On the same wave we also find the bookcase "Port Saint Michel”Which houses a tea room inside.
What to see in Bécherel
But in addition to being the homeland of the book, as we have said, Bécherel also preserves a rich architectural heritage, which also brought him the name of "Petite cité de Caractére de Bretagne".
So you absolutely cannot miss a visit to the Caradeuc Castle, one of the most beautiful in the region, surrounded by an extensive park, which has allowed it to be nicknamed the “Breton Versailles”. Then you can continue your walk towards the Les Iffs Church, built in full Gothic style, and then take a little break from your excursion in Thabor Park, which stands on the remains of a cemetery behind the Church of Notre-Dame de Bécherel.
We are sure that if you love books and reading, a bit of curiosity has arisen in you and the desire to visit this small town that preserves an immense treasure of culture, tradition, history, fables and Celtic legends, as evidenced by its proximity to Wood of Paimpont commonly associated with the mythical forest of Brocéliande, where the events of Merlin and the Morgana fairy take place in the cycle of legends of King Arthur.
