How Strasbourg is celebrating being UNESCO World Book Capital in 2024

The French city Strasbourg – where western printing press was invented – is celebrating its year as UNESCO 2024 World Book Capital City, succeeding Accra in Ghana from the previous year.

With the theme of ‘Read our World’, the city will celebrate literature and reading with over 1,000 events.

The UNESCO programme first started in 2001 with an aim to encourage books and reading in all forms between all ages between cities.

Seeing books as the “vectors of knowledge and tools for increasing self-awareness and awareness of others, and shaping the world”, Strasbourg hopes use its status to educate people on climate change and social injustice, and continue the conversations around this through books.

“We’re putting together a series of initiatives that will create habits around books and encourage people to use them as supports of thought, debate, curiosity and respect for others,” says Anne Mistler, Deputy Mayor in charge of Arts and Culture in Strasbourg.

Located in eastern France on the German border with a rich historical linkage to books and prints, Strasbourg’ rich culture and heritage makes it well placed as a World Book Capital City. Visitors can’t miss its picturesque La Petite France district with half-timbered houses, cobblestone streets, and canals which brings you a traditional Alsatian atmosphere, with great views from Ponts Couverts – covered bridges and medieval towers that once formed part of the city’s defences. Strasbourg Cathedral is a masterpiece of Gothic architecture, and for more than 200 years was the highest building in the world, with its belltower standing at 142 metres.

The history of Strasbourg is like a storybook itself. In the Middle Ages it was an intellectual crossroads between Northern and Southern Europe. In around 1440, Johannes Gutenberg invented the movable-type printing press in Strasbourg, beginning the Printing Revolution. Then in 1605, the Relation newspaper, the first modern medium of information dissemination, came off the presses of Strasbourg printer Johann Carolus. 

During the Renaissance, Strasbourg became a centre for humanist thought and literature, contributing significantly to the spread of Renaissance ideas across Europe.

Strasbourg loves reading and education, with its Bibliothèque nationale et universitaire de Strasbourg being one of the largest libraries in France and The University of Strasbourg, one of Europe’s oldest and most prominent universities. From the historic books stores such as the Librairie Kléber established in 1885, to the modern-day vibrant cultural events such as Rencontres de l’Illustration attracting 35,000 people annually, Strasbourg’s deep connection with books can be felt across the city.

Visit during its tenure as World Book Capital this summer and beyond, and you’ll not only get to enjoy the city but also one of the many cultural events taking place across its districts. Below, we pick some of our favourites.

Five best cultural events to celebrate Strasbourg as 2024’s World Book Capital City

1. Pages Blanches Programme

The Blank Pages programme at the Théâtre Actuel et Public de Strasbourg takes part around an over 700 sq metres installation in a comfortable past paper-making setting. Starting from 5 July 2024, activities will be organised around the theme of a page to savour, travel, dream and excite every Friday to Sunday. Join Latin, ballroom, electro or swing dance on Friday evening, opera, jazz, French chanson and drag performances on Saturday 6pm and family friendly entertainments from Sunday morning to engage with the concept of the book in some innovative artistic fusions.

2. LIVRESQUE 2024 exhibition

The exhibition is set to transform the public spaces of Strasbourg and its surrounding Eurometropolis into a vibrant celebration of the written word. Drawings from ten Strasbourg-related artists on the theme of books and reading will be shown throughout the city’s trams and public spaces from 4 July 2024. Get new inspirations stirred up by their creative work and feel the power of literature.

3. Kiosque en musique

The Music Kiosk at Parc du Contades comes alive with a diverse range of musical performances – jazz, classical, pop and world music – every Sunday afternoon from 2 June to 1 September 2024. Additionally, on Wednesdays afternoon from 3 July to 28 August 2024, the Music Kiosk will host a special program catered to young audiences, featuring elements such as puppetry, clowns, and songs.

4. Thursdays are for outings

Apart from the free innovative art exhibitions of “Un voyage à Strasbourg” and “Terrain de jeux” by the French artist collective Les Rhubarbus to re-examine perceptions of urban spaces, visitors can enjoy their Thursday evenings in the courtyard of 5e Lieu for live performances in July and August.

5. Summer shows at TAPS

Eight shows await you in July and August at The Théâtre Actuel et Public de Strasbourg – Dive into a river, meet a real villain, build imaginary worlds with cubes, embark on a journey to discover the moon, experience exile and friendship, marvel at acrobatics, and laugh at a classical yet burlesque ballet… Explore and open up to the world of imagination throughout the summer.

For more information, visit lirenotremonde.strasbourg.eu