Iconic Paris Bookshop Destroyed in Massive Fire
A massive fire engulfed the much beloved La Hune book shop in Paris on Friday afternoon.
Huge orange flames could be seen shooting out of the historic book shop, located in Paris’ Saint-Germain-des-Pres neighborhood as bystanders simply looked on in shock and horror.
“I came out of work on Rue de Rennes and just saw everyone looking up," eyewitness Lillian Wagner told The Local. "I turned to see a few flames and many emergency vehicles.”
According to the Telegraph the fire was so large that it required more than 50 firefighters and a dozen fire trucks to extinguish. The bookstore and the gallery, which were both located on the first floor, were completely destroyed. Police had not announced a cause for the fire as of Friday afternoon.
Fortunately, no one was killed in the fire, however four people were treated for minor injuries, The Local reported.
The bookshop became an instant landmark when it was founded in 1949. As the Telegraph reported, the shop quickly became a central meeting point for intellectuals throughout the 20th century and counted Coco Chanel, Albert Camus, and André Breton as customers and followers. Perhaps the most impressive point in the store’s iconic history was when Pablo Picasso exhibited several pieces of his work in the gallery space in the store in the 1950s.
Fans, followers, and even politicians took to Twitter to share their memories at the bookshop, with Mareille de Sarnez, a French politician, leading the charge by tweeting, “My thoughts are with those injured and all those who work in one of the most exciting bookshops in France. I hope to see it alive again.”
A massive fire engulfed the much beloved La Hune book shop in Paris on Friday afternoon.
Huge orange flames could be seen shooting out of the historic book shop, located in Paris’ Saint-Germain-des-Pres neighborhood as bystanders simply looked on in shock and horror.
I saw the fire at Librairie La Hune from my window. I went down to take some photos. https://t.co/EhuwPrzhkB. #fire #paris #lahune pic.twitter.com/xoTQ9hMMEw
— Andrea Sunderland (@pixelchatter) November 16, 2017
“I came out of work on Rue de Rennes and just saw everyone looking up," eyewitness Lillian Wagner told The Local. "I turned to see a few flames and many emergency vehicles.”
According to the Telegraph the fire was so large that it required more than 50 firefighters and a dozen fire trucks to extinguish. The bookstore and the gallery, which were both located on the first floor, were completely destroyed. Police had not announced a cause for the fire as of Friday afternoon.
La Hune a brûlé. C'est une catastrophe ! https://t.co/QWrDkzBECI
— Olivier Leclercq (@olivleclercq) November 17, 2017
Fortunately, no one was killed in the fire, however four people were treated for minor injuries, The Local reported.
Sad day at saint Germain des prés pic.twitter.com/XHBcIYOzsZ
— Bruno Bensaid (@brubrushanghai) November 16, 2017
The bookshop became an instant landmark when it was founded in 1949. As the Telegraph reported, the shop quickly became a central meeting point for intellectuals throughout the 20th century and counted Coco Chanel, Albert Camus, and André Breton as customers and followers. Perhaps the most impressive point in the store’s iconic history was when Pablo Picasso exhibited several pieces of his work in the gallery space in the store in the 1950s.
Fans, followers, and even politicians took to Twitter to share their memories at the bookshop, with Mareille de Sarnez, a French politician, leading the charge by tweeting, “My thoughts are with those injured and all those who work in one of the most exciting bookshops in France. I hope to see it alive again.”
Thoughts are with all the booksellers and customers of La Hune this morning - such horrible news about a wonderful bookshop pic.twitter.com/vwfrLSWZ5r
— MacLehose Press (@maclehosepress) November 17, 2017
