The canary reader

Take a look at the beautiful wooden bookshop on either side of la Fosse Street. Founded in 1919, Coiffard bookshop is one of the oldest in the city. It has kept its authenticity thanks to its beautiful wooden bookcases and antique ladders. Look above the store front at number 4. Sitting on the first-floor balcony, you'll see Stéphane Phélippot's “canary reader”. This life-sized sculpture, which has enthralled the public, is rich in symbolism. It embodies the emancipation of free individuals, liberated from the shackles of the slave trade, still held between their hands, and the elevation of the soul through knowledge. If you enjoy the cosy atmosphere of a fine bookshop, don't hesitate to push open the beautiful wooden doors of this century-old establishment.