What are best days/times to browse the bouquinistes stalls? (Paris)
 

I want to spend some quality time browsing the bouquinistes stalls in September...
- Do they open every day? (weekdays or just weekends?)
- What time do they generally open up? (mornings or just afternoons?)
- Do they sell pretty much the 'same' merchandise on either side of the river?(does it matter which side if I'm not looking for anything specific?)
Thanks!

Hi T,

>..does it matter which side if I'm not looking for anything specific?<

No.

((I))

MAybe I just missed them but I've never seen a bouquiniste stall on the Right bank..only on the Left

Hi jody. We passed some bouquinistes on the Right Bank in May. If I recollect properly, they were either along Quai de Gesvres or Quai de l'Hotel de Ville.

Anselm

I was there in June and remember them on both sides. As to what days, I think they are open most but there always were a few boxes closed. I'd say go when it's not hot. We didn't have the patience to stand in sweltering sun to look at merchandise.
Have Fun!

The best times for your purpose are those when you have good weather.

As far I know, they are obliged to sell a certain number of days, maybe for days a week. Basically, it is their descision, when to open and when to close, but the trade depends on daylight. So, noon and afternoon to the evening might be good times for your search.

It is also every bouquiniste´s own descision what to trade, so you will find different sortiments besides the usual postcards and souvenirs. as these people know each other well, you may ask them if you have special interests if they know somebody selling these things.

from the wikiedia article "bouquinistes de Paris":
"Les bouquinistes de Paris sont présents sur une grande partie des quais de Seine ; sur la rive droite, du pont Marie au quai du Louvre ; sur la rive gauche du quai de la Tournelle au quai Malaquais. Ils possèdent tous un « casier » d'une taille réglementaire de 8,2 m."

Early afternoons will work for me - thank you!

Travelnut, bouquinistes are fun and part of the Parisian landscape, but, for the "serious" book browser, they are not selling anything valuable. Basically, it's just your second hand bookstore around the block, except that, for you at least, they are not around the block but set against the background of Notre Dame or Hôtel de Ville! They do have some midly interesting old editions, but mostly they keep stuff geared at their main constituency: tourists! If you want to indulge into serious bibliophile browsing, try the antique bookstores on rue de l'Odéon or rue des Quatre Vents in the 6th, and with a bit of luck you'll stumble upon Umberto Eco (as you could have met Mitterrand when he was still alive... )

There are 250 bouquinistes in Paris, with a maximum of 4 boxes each. They are obliged to be open at least 4 days a week, no matter what the weather. It is permitted to sell souvenirs instead of books in one of the four boxes. There are fewer and fewer specialists because the average age of the vendors is now only 40 years old, down from 60 years old in the 1960's.