After finding a steal on ns last year, we packed our bags for a weekend to explore maastrichts christmas market, magical maastricht. The historic city center has all the big chains, but also a lot of small allies with cute little unknown shops. The ethos and vision behind shalimar books formerly soma books was always more far reaching than exclusively being an indian book and craft specialist in london. To prove it, sean dodson chooses the 10 bookshops from around the world which he considers to be the fairest of them all.
Selexyz bookstore maastricht netherlands, maastricht, architecture. By 2005, when it was turned into a bookstore designed by architecture firm. Claiming to be the biggest bookshop not only in london but in the whole of europe, waterstones is a paradise for book lovers. This impressive book palace opened its gothic doors in 2007 in the city of maastricht, in the netherlands. A room filled with books has a certain undeniable charm. What is most impressive about this building is the beautiful wooden staircase and the stainedglass windows in the ceiling that reflect around the room. Discover the capitals best shops selected by time outs panel of experts. Mar 15, 2018 selexyz dominicanen, maastricht, the netherlands. Well, it could make like the dutch and convert it into a temple of books. House in a th century dominican cathedral in the center of maastricht, holland, the selexys dominicanen is about as close to divine as a book shop can get. Old church converted into a modern library maastricht.
Boekhandel selexyz dominicanen, maastricht, the netherlands. Being a book lover, these places look like paradise to me. It was independent publishing company ipco that started in the 1940s which published two antiimperialist magazines the african and colonial world and the indian at home and overseas. Jan 11, 2008 1 boekhandel selexyz dominicanen in maastricht. The boekhandel dominicanen the bookstore dominicanen in. Cool and unusual things to do in maastricht atlas obscura. Well, that was until 2006 when the bookshop came into its current function. The 100 best shops in london if one thing sets london apart from other world cities its the shops. I love book shops, libraries, even the smell of the books and yes, the books themselves.
Selexyz dominicanen maastricht, netherlands atlas obscura. It houses a massive three storey bookshelf with staircases, elevators and walkways. Barter books, alnwick, england located in the perfect setting, an old english train station, barter books is a secondhand bookshop located in the historic english market town of alnwick, northumberland owned and run by stuart and mary manley. The residents of maastricht in the netherlands can do just that at the kruisherenhotel, a 15th century gothic church and monastery converted into luxury accommodation, with 60 rooms. Discover hidden attractions, cool sights, and unusual things to do in maastricht, netherlands from selexyz dominicanen to kruisherenhotel. May 19, 2011 selexyzs maastricht branch occupies a church and must be one of the most beautiful bookshops in the world it looked like a cathedral of the book. The original cathedral exterior and interior is kept in place, with its feature piece being the mural painted ceiling. The best shops in maastricht for the perfect day of shopping in maastricht. This bookstore houses in an over 700 years old church and was voted for the most beautiful bookstore in the world in 2012.
With herringbone floors, a huge stained glass window, and a skylight fit for a greenhouse, the edwardian bookstore is a lovely place to buy a novel by jane austen or oscar wilde. Specially the ones with a good selection of coffee table books or stationary. Ancient dominican church renovated into modern bookstore. Selexyzs maastricht branch occupies a church and must be one of the most beautiful bookshops in the world it looked like a cathedral of the book. Even if you dont like reading or books this place is worth a visit. Imagine perusing rows of classic books and popular literature under the roof of a gothic church dating back to 1294. The selexyz dominicanen in maastricht opened in late 2006. Boekhandel selexyz dominicanen in maastricht, holland jorge franganilloflickr this epic bookstore is a converted dominican church from the th century.
Its a beautiful gothic church from the outside, which has been refurbished as a book store, and it is an absolute sight to behold i must say. Waterstones piccadilly is london s largest bookshop, and claims to be the biggest bookstore in europe the shop is spread. Needless to say, our weekend in limburg enjoying maastricht and valkenburg was just what we needed. Selexyz dominican church, maastricht, the netherlands. Selexyz dominicanen dominicanerkerkstraat 1 maastricht. Voted the most beautiful bookstore in the world in 2008 by the british newspaper the guardian. It was founded in 1869 and has been named one of the most beautiful book shops in the world, but is perhaps more famous for being the location of several scenes in the harry potter films. Occupying a thcentury dominican church which maastrichts cyclists had appropriated for bike storage selexyz dominicanen consists of a steel bookstack rising towards the heavens. Selexyz dominicanen maastricht is home to a location of maastricht s best coffee cafe chain.
Jan 01, 20 the american book center, amsterdam, the netherlands photo via almost utilitarian but filled with simple oldworld grace, this store is a little like what we might imagine our ideal ships. One branch of the popular dutch bookstore chain selexyz can be found right inside of a century dominican church in maastricht, holland. Waterstones piccadilly is londons largest bookshop, and claims to be the biggest bookstore in europe the shop is spread. House in a th century dominican cathedral in the center of maastricht, holland, the selexys dominicanen is about as close to divine as a. Sep 22, 2015 selexyz dominicanen bookstore, maastricht selexyz dominicanen bookstore, maastricht if youre the kind of reader who likes to see books treated with a respect verging onto the reverential, the selexyz dominicanen bookstore in maastricht will make you very happy.
Boekhandel dominicanen, maastricht maastricht, netherlands. Maastricht is also famous for its frituuren fry shops. The worlds 19 most stunning bookstores fodors travel guide. Here are 26 bookstores that every book lover should visit. I made a selection for you with the best shops in maastricht. The religious theme continues on the left bank at selexyz dominicanen yet another church that has been converted, this time into a fabulous english and dutchlanguage book store. Bookshop dominicanen in maastricht, the netherlands. Daunt books has six locations in london, and its marylebone shop is undoubtedly the most spectacular. Twelve of the worlds most beautiful bookshops in pictures. Currently based in paris after studies in london, shes spent most of her life. Kruisherenhotel maastricht, netherlands atlas obscura. The minichain stocks a lot more than guides and maps, and everything from biographies to fiction is handily arranged by country.
Selexyz dominicanen, dominicanerkerkstraat 1, maastricht, 6211 cz, netherlands. This store in the selexyz chain is the most beautiful bookstore in the netherlands. Worlds best book shops include a former theater and a th century church. Maastricht even has two sissy boy homelands one of my favourite home stores. The building that houses the store is in fact a gothic church consecrated in 1294 by the order of predicators founded by st. Jun 19, 2015 twelve of the worlds most beautiful bookshops in pictures. Book stores top 10 after my visit to porto, nearly one year ago, i realized that there is a top 10 of the most beautiful bookstores of the world. Boekhandel dominicanen, maastricht, netherlands bookstore.
The disorientation visitors encounter upon entering the selexyz dominicanen bookstore in maastricht is likely atavic in nature. Selexyz dominican church in maastricht inhabitat green design. Maastricht is a beautiful city in the south of the netherlands. Selexyz dominicaner maastricht in maastricht, the location demanded a completely different approach. With 6 floors and over 8 miles of bookshelves, waterstones attentive staff will always help you browse your subject and find any specific titles you are searching for. See more ideas about home libraries, books and beautiful library. Jul 16, 2019 selexyz dominicanen in maastricht, netherlands. What does a city do with an 800yearold church with no congregation. One day in maastricht during the christmas market season is certainly not enough as its easy to spend a whole day exploring the citys many charming shopping districts filled with independent shops alone.
The american book center, amsterdam, the netherlands photo via almost utilitarian but filled with simple oldworld grace, this store is a little like what we might imagine our ideal ships. Maybe because its nostalgic, maybe its because you never know what you might find. Filled with books from floor to ceiling and a few overflowing outside, the cozy store is set in a 17thcentury building that once housed a monastery. Boekhandel dominicanen maastricht, the netherlands in a project known as selexyz dominicanen maastricht, two architects set out to make a th century dominican cathedral and convert its interior into a modern bookstore, and boekhandel dominicanen is the end product. In the classical world, mercury, the god of merchants, was also considered the messenger of the gods and the protector of swindlers. Hatchards is the uks oldest bookshop and has been selling books in the heart of piccadilly since 1797. See more ideas about maastricht, best places to eat and places to eat. Uks waterstones pins hopes on anobii social bookselling. Its located in an old church in the heart of the city. Although currently closed, polare maastricht formerly selexyz dominicanen has been named in more than one occasion as the most beautiful bookshop in the world.
This doesnt even include seeing the zonneberg caves outside of the city center, where the night watch was hidden during world war ii. The worlds most beautiful bookstores architectural digest. The church has not hosted a religious function since 1794. Cunningly, this both leaves the naves grandeur intact and creates 1,200 sq metres of. Between 2006 and 20, the shop was part of the chain selexyz and polare. You can also go there for coffee at the coffee cafe coffeelovers. In the middle of the church stands an enormous flat of steel. This bookstore is a part of the selexys chain and it holds the biggest stock of books in english in maastrich stored in a very unusual place in an old dominican. Polare maastricht, a bookshop housed in a centuriesold dominican church in maastricht, netherlands. The 10 most famous bookstores in the world literary hub. It is so grand and majestic in terms of art, and has a wide array of books also in english, which was great for me. Maastricht is a culinary city, with a lot of great. Boekhandel selexyz dominicanen in maastricht, holland. London is an armchair explorers dream, offering highquality, travelfocused book dens such as stanfords.
The perfect place for a romantic weekend getaway, or a shopping trip. Discover selexyz dominicanen in maastricht, netherlands. Where else could you immerse yourself in books inside a cathedral with over 700 years of history. Polare bookstore used to be selexyz bookstore, maastricht, the netherlands. Oct 30, 2019 while the ebook is slowly becoming the preferred medium when it comes to reading, some people still enjoy browsing for books in stores. Uks waterstones pins hopes on anobii social bookselling app. Jan 07, 2020 maastricht is such a lovely city and its always delightful to have an excuse to revisit maastricht. The selexyz bookstore, housed within the 700yearold selexyz dominicanen, seamlessly juxtaposes past and present and provides one of the most unusual settings for browsing books and grabbing a coffee. Bij boekhandel dominicanen vindt u een breed en diep assortiment boeken en muziek en vele activiteiten, in een unieke locatie. While the ebook is slowly becoming the preferred medium when it comes to reading, some people still enjoy browsing for books in stores. The clients original idea was to bridge the area, however the architects rejected this idea as it would disprove the architectural quality of the church.
The fivestorey shop is nowadays run by waterstones but still holds the royal warrant and attracts high profile authors for book signings and talks. Projects retail shops selexyz bookstore dominicanen. Boekhandel dominicanen bookstore maastricht, netherlands. In maastricht, selexyz dominicanen is a project with multiple souls, where tradition and innovative solutions come together over a good book and a good cup of coffee. Transformed from a 700 year old catholic church to an ornate bookstore, the polare formerly selexyz is indeed a class apart. I thought livraria lello in porto would be the most impressive shop, but according to the guardian, there are 9 others. A modern two floor high apartment that only houses books.
See more ideas about coffee shop, book cafe and library cafe. The bookshop in a thcentury dominican church is something. Something of an institution, today its one of the largest outdoor bookshops in the world. Shalimar books online bookshop and blog buy indian. This centuriesold gothic monster has been converted into a sprawling, glossy bookstore. The best bookstores dont just sell a lot of books, they honor literary culture itself. Jun 21, 2019 the little yellowgreen storefront with the colourful fairy lights is located in the center of paris in a setting that could not be more perfect. You find selexyz dominicanen maastricht close to the vrijthof and the main shopping street. At various points in time, dominicanerkerkstraat 1 has been used as a bike store shed, a city warehouse, a parish church for the sintjansparochie, and even as a printing house. This bookstore is a part of the selexys chain and it holds the biggest stock of books in english in maastrich stored in a very unusual place in an old dominican church. Jan 10, 2019 imagine perusing rows of classic books and popular literature under the roof of a gothic church dating back to 1294. Bursting at the seams with books of all sorts, including some first editions, its a must visit for any keen reader. In the heart of the netherlands, and the heart of a 700 year old church nonetheless, the selexyz dominicanen houses shelves upon shelves of books.
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