The World’s Oldest Operating Bookstore — Centuries of Books and Ghosts
In the Chiado neighborhood in the historic center of Lisbon, Portugal you will find the world’s oldest operating bookstore.
The Guinness Book of World Records declared Livraria Bertrand the oldest operating book store in the world in 2011.
Whether Livraria Bertrand is faithfully a ghost friendly zone we can’t be for sure. However, we have heard rumors of the occasional ghost helping customers find the perfect book with no complaints registered.
Here is some history about the marvelous and almost three century old bookstore.
Livraria Bertrand was found in 1732 by French bookseller Pedro Faure, who had a leading printing shop in Lisbon when he opened the bookstore. The name Bertrand came into play when Pierre Bertrand became an associate of Faure in the 1740’s and the property changed its name to Pedro Faure & Bertrand. To ensure succession of the bookstore Faure later married his daughter to Pierre Bertrand. A few years later Pierre’s brother Jean Joseph joined the operation and the bookstore was called Peter Faure & Bertrand Brothers.
In 1753 Pedro Faure dies. The bookstore remains successful for two more years, when an earthquake occurs on the Feast of All Saints with an estimated magnitude of at least 8.4 on the MMS scale. It devastates the Bertrand brother’s bookstore forcing Pierre to abandon the shop and business, but his brother Jean Joseph woud not quit and continued by opening up in a new location away from the destroyed lower town area of Lisbon.
The real rebirth of the Livraria Bertrand occured in 1773 when Jean Joseph returned back to the Rua Garrett (Chiado’s main street) where the bookstore remains today. Interesting note, when Jean Joseph died, his wife and son took over the shop and it became known as Bertrand’s Widow & Son.
For over 250 years nothing has stopped poets to plumbers from fulfilling their intellectual desires at the shop on Rua Garrett. The dream of Pedro Faure was for his bookstore to become a center for intellectual and artistic discussions and gatherings. Something that was not only accomplished, but has been for centuries. A mind-blowing feat.
A few of Portugal’s most famous writers and poets who have visited Livraria Bertrand include: Fernando Pessoa, Eca de Queirós, Alexander Herculano, Antero de Quental and Ramalho Ortigão.
More than 90 percent of the books in Livraria Bertrand are in Portuguese, but there is a small section of English books consisting mainly of classics with a few contemporary authors, mostly bestseller ones. There are also French and Spanish books available and a small cafe that is through several rooms in the back of Livraria Bertrand.
We should all hope that Livraria Bertrand and the younger and passionate run book stores of the world have a much longer life. The world and society in general needs their continued existence for the betterment of our souls and minds.
Below is an additional piece authored by a traveler who has visited Livraria Bertrand that includes some nice photographs. Take a look and enjoy!