Grand Déballage de Printemps de Fontenoy-la-Joûte

The Grand Déballage de Printemps: Season Opening at the Village du Livre

Every year at Easter, the Village du Livre in Fontenoy-la-Joûte launches its season with the Grand Déballage de Printemps. This event, in its 19th edition in 2026, is the first unmissable appointment of the year for bibliophiles and second-hand book lovers in Lorraine.

Fontenoy-la-Joûte, Village du Livre since 1996

Fontenoy-la-Joûte is one of the eight "Villages du Livre" in France. Since 1996, this small village in Meurthe-et-Moselle, located between Lunéville and Baccarat, has transformed its houses into bookshops specializing in second-hand books. The association des Amis du Livre animates this unique cultural space, which hosts eleven permanent shops offering thousands of books of all genres, from classic literature to comic books and regional works.

An Outdoor Book Market

The Grand Déballage takes over the village streets during the Easter weekend. In addition to the eleven permanent shops, about a dozen professional and private exhibitors set up their stalls outdoors, offering second-hand books on all themes: classic and contemporary literature, history, science, art, regional books, comic books, and old books. Sunday is reserved for professionals, while Monday also welcomes private exhibitors. Since 2025, the event has been enriched by a Crime Novel Fair with authors signing books and a cultural quiz.

30 Years of Passion for Books in 2026

The 2026 edition is particularly special as the Village du Livre celebrates its 30th anniversary. The Grand Déballage will thus host ten open shops, twelve professional and private exhibitors in the streets, and ten crime novel authors under tents, with a cultural quiz on Sunday afternoon. Fast food is available on-site, and parking is free. Fontenoy-la-Joûte is located about twenty minutes from Lunéville, easily accessible from Nancy and the main cities of Lorraine.