A floating bookshop has opened at one of Paris’s most iconic locations—directly beneath the historic Notre-Dame Cathedral—marking an innovative addition to the city’s cultural landscape.
The barge, named Nanna and moored at Quai de Montebello, represents what its founders describe as “the biggest book box in Paris.” Located on the banks of the Seine, the vessel will remain at this prime riverside spot for the next decade.
Visitors can explore a self-service collection of over 5,000 titles, organized by category and emphasizing women authors alongside French literary classics, world literature, poetry, and drama. Books can be borrowed freely without obligation to return them, creating an open-access literary experience.
Co-founder Nicolas Laugero Lasserre positioned the concept as a natural extension of the Seine’s artistic heritage: “The Seine has always been a great source of inspiration for artists and poets. That is why it made perfect sense to place this literary barge on the water.”
As evening approaches, the barge transforms into a social destination featuring DJ sets, literary speed dating events, author readings, and a bar. “Here, you can enjoy a drink, browse the books, and indulge your passion for literature,” Lasserre explained.
Hugo Buton, the barge’s literary curator, noted the community-focused approach: “People come here to borrow books, and that’s it—they do not have to bring them back. They can also drop off books of their own.”
The initiative launches amid challenges facing French bookselling: according to the Centre national du Livre, 2025 recorded the first recent period where bookstores closed faster than new ones opened—85 closures versus 83 openings.