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House of Literature
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Although Basel is not considered a typically literary city, this is precisely where Switzerlands first House of Literature was opened in the spring of 2000. Anyone interested in the written word can also visit one of the more than forty (specialist) bookshops or one of the many readings by authors.
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The Literaturhaus Basel is a lively meeting place for readers and writers, publishers and booksellers, translators and journalists and anyone who is interested in literature.
Basel has a long, strong tradition as a city of books. The oldest publisher in the world, Schwabe, is in Basel as is the Papiermühle, which first began operating in 1435. So it should not be surprising that in the city on the Rhine, where everything flows with the river, as the Baslers put it, Switzerland's first Literaturhaus was opened in 2000. Its commitment to its position at the intersection of three countries and thus to a multilingual literature has helped it to live up to the challenge of becoming a place with regional roots and international perspectives.
The central purpose of the Literaturhaus Basel is to provide a location for introducing and experiencing literature, in the broadest sense of the word. Readings, discussions, literary competitions, thematic evenings, and projects for young writers are part of the wide range of literary activity. Further offerings include podiums, workshops, reading groups, and an editorial service. You can discuss literature, society, or the media, or you can go on one of the numerous literary tours of the city and the region, following in the footsteps of local figures, both historical and contemporary. A free subscription to the varied program of the Literaturhaus Basel can come directly into your mailbox every month.
At the entrance to the Literaturhaus Basel is a small café (88 m2) with the literary name 'Kafka am Strand', after a novel by the Japanese author Haruki Murakami. By day, 'Kafka am Strand' is a quiet oasis, open for conversations and browsing through the bookshelves, which are full of literary journals and the latest books, as well as newspapers and magazines. For all those who prefer to listen rather than to read, there is a collection of audio books. And of course, a first-rate coffee and a wide range of snacks and meals are available as well. The 'Kafka am Strand' team also looks forward to serving you.
The residence of the house of literature Basel ist at the Barfüssergasse 3.
Picture: Juri Junkov
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