October riots leave French and Italian bookstores severely damaged

The Reader Times desk 29 October 2026 Based on Börsenblatt reporting

Engraved illustration of a richly stocked bookshop brightened by flowers and warm light. — Editorial illustration for The Reader Times.

Bookstores in several French cities and a Feltrinelli branch in Turin have suffered extensive destruction after the October riots, raising doubts about their reopening dates.

Bookstores in Paris, Nantes, Lille, Grenoble and Strasbourg were among the commercial premises hit by the October riots, with many reporting shattered windows and heavily vandalised interiors.

In Italy, the Feltrinelli store in Turin was demolished, its façade reduced to rubble and its merchandise destroyed.

Owners and local officials said the extent of the damage makes it unclear when the shops can resume operations, as repairs will require substantial time and investment.

The incidents highlight the vulnerability of cultural retail spaces during civil unrest and underscore the broader impact on the book trade in the affected regions.