Montolieu, Book village in Aude, France.
Montolieu is a village in southern France dedicated to books, with numerous bookshops featuring secondhand and antique volumes spread throughout its streets. Art galleries, photography studios, and cafes are scattered among the bookstores throughout the settlement.
In 1990, bookbinder Michel Braibant from Carcassonne transformed this French village into a literary destination following the model of Hay-on-Wye in Wales. This founding concept continues to shape the village's character today.
The village brings together literature and visual arts through galleries, photography studios, and regular exhibitions that connect different forms of creativity. Walking through the streets, visitors can experience this blend of books and art directly.
Bookshops, art spaces, and cafes are scattered throughout the village and easy to find on foot. Tourist information is available at the local office to help you navigate and plan your visit.
The Cactuseraie d'Escaïre-Figue garden holds an unexpected collection of cacti that visitors often overlook. This botanical space offers a green contrast to the book-focused character of the village.
Location: canton of Alzonne
Location: Aude
Location: arrondissement of Carcassonne
Elevation above the sea: 123 m
Industry: administration publique générale
Shares border with: Alzonne, Aragon, Brousses-et-Villaret, Fraisse-Cabardès, Moussoulens, Saint-Denis, Saint-Martin-le-Vieil, Saissac
Address: 11170 Montolieu, France
Phone: +33468248403
Email: montolieu.mairie@wanadoo.fr
Website: http://montolieu.fr
GPS coordinates: 43.30917,2.21528
Latest update: December 6, 2025 16:03
The region around Carcassonne features an area marked by medieval and Cathar history, with castles, abbeys, and old villages. The Cité of Carcassonne displays its city walls restored in the 19th century by Viollet-le-Duc, while the Canal du Midi has traversed the region for 240 kilometers since the...
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