Our favourite (art) bookshops in The South of France for Art Lovers

An exceptional bookshop in a monumental building, i.e., Marseille’s former arsenal, a 16th-century weapons store and shipyard for galleys. The shop occupies several rooms of this amazing old building, with wooden beams and stone walls. While it’s a good place to stock up on literature, books about food and tourist guides, Les Arcenaulx is mainly known for its selection of books on the history of Marseille and Provence. It also sells prints as well as historic and current maps. The shop’s other name is Librairie Jeanne Laffitte – Laffitte is a publisher with a keen eye for old and rare publications, which she gives a new lease on life. She also lobbied tirelessly to ban cars from Cours d’Estienne d’Orves so it would become a pedestrian area. There is an excellent restaurant next to the bookshop. Check the ‘literary’ menus.