Great Pen Stores - Stores of Note - France
Lyon, France
Lyon Stylo
26 Victor Hugo
Lyon, France
Lyon is a city not to be missed. On our recent visit the the city we found the old quarter is very charming. The cathedrals are impressive. The shopping area very nice with a number of pen stores. Be mindful that on Monday mornings a number of stores will be closed. Lyon Stylo has an excellent selection of pens. Although English is limited, the owner is very helpful. [R.E. Morgan]
Nimes, France
Papeterie Baille;
Boulevard Victor Hugo, 40
Nimes, France
Tel: 66-67-41.25
What a town. Don't miss the opportunity to visit this town on your next visit to France.
And, what a find this store is! It is located in a 19th-century building, and been in operation in the same building since 1834. The display windows are filled with all the great lines of pens. When you walk inside you will be greeted by friendly staff wearing white lab-style coats. The store keeps the beautiful leather-covered portfolios freshly polished--the aroma is great. There is some English spoken but the staff are great at helping you out. If you don't see what you want, ask. I was amazed as the endless number of pens that kept being brought out from the back storage area. I bought one of my Waterman Patrician fountain pens here. They were very helpful and also assisted with the VAT De-Tax forms and that will save you 13% off the purchase price is you are leaving the country. Make sure if your are visiting the country that you don't forget that option!
Paris, France
Art du Bureau
rue des Francs Bourgeois, 47; Paris
We always stay in this area of Paris, and the Art due Bureau is located in the now very trendy Marais district of Paris. Located in the 3rd arrondissement, not far from the Picasso Museum, the store offers an excellent selection of Rotring, Lamy and Jean-Piere Lepine pens as well as usual standards. Thanks to R. Gutherie for sending in the review. I had lost the address to the store, I can attest to Guthrie's comments that the staff are most helpful. They speak some English and accept all credit cards.
Galleries Lafayette
40, Bld Haussmann
Galleries
Lafayette has a stunning pen counter on the main floor and another on the 6th floor. Representatives from the major pen companies work the counters so they know all about the various lines. As you would expect in Paris, very little English spoken. De-Tax forms available.
Boutiques Hotel du Ville,
rue Rivoli, opposite Hotel du Ville
This department store has a large pen department on the first floor up. They carries all major lines including a number of limited edition pens.
Mora
7rue de Tournon
Paris 75006
(metro: Mabillion or Odeon)
Tel: (33 )01.43.54.99.19
Fax: (33) 01.43.54.17.80
When in Paris, visist Mora, the store carries the best brands and rare limited edition pens. You'll find André Mora always has an interesting selection of recent pens, pre-owned (aka "occasions") and limited edition pens. He also does repairs. (Thanks: Alain Dbjay)
Nearby is an upscale stationary store, good selection of notebooks, including leatherbound ones.:
Grim Art
59 Rue St Andre de Arts
75006 Paris
www.grim-art.com
Stylo Honore
1 rue Marche St. Honore
Paris
Good selection of various makes of pens. The owner makes his own ink called Cocktail. The ink comes in great colours, although they are expensive. (Thanks: R.E. Morgan)
Pointe Plume;
21 rue Quentin Bauchart
Paris
Located just off the Champs de Elysee, the store has a great selection of the top end of all major brands with an emphasis on the limited editions. The sales staff speak English and they are very helpful. Here you will see some of the limited editions that we would normally only read about. (Thanks: R.E. Morgan). Lots of good comments about this store. They will spend lots of time with you talking and showing you great pens.
Stylos Marbeuf
40 rue Marbuef
Paris
This shop is located just off the Champs de Elysee. Great selection of most European brands with helpful and friendly staff. (Merci: M. Claxton, K. Hill). Look around as even if you don't need another pen, hard to believe, they have great journals and we always need things to write in.
Stylos Wagram
13 Avenue de Wagram
75017 Paris
(metro Charles de Gaulle Étoile)
Tel 01 43 80 20 71 Fax 01 47 54 92 21
www.styloswagram.com
In 2008 I received a note about this store, which had not been on the list. They carry all the major brands of pens. Monsieur Fau does repairs in the backroom and can look after chaning nibs in pens that require the special work of releasing and sealing the nib sections. (Thanks Anders Blichfeldt)
Rennes France
Autograph
5 rue Chateaurenault
3500 Rennes; Tel: 99.79.39.45, Fax: 99.77.39.46
I found this pen store on a walk into the old city centre of Rennes, Autograph has a fine selection of pens that includes Waterman, Parker, Lamy, Sheaffer, Omas, Cross as well as other lines commonly found in Europe. The store also sells a good selection of pen cases, men's wallets and purses that accompany the European pen lines. Staff, while only speaking French, you are in France, are very helpful. The store does does not shut down from the afternoon period, so what better place do you have to spend the 12 to 2:00 time slot?
Strasbourg, France
Gerard - Style et Plume;
21 rue des Grandes Arcades;
Place Kleber
Strasbourg, France
The store carries extensive lines of Mont Blanc, Waterman, Pelikan, Parker, Shaeffer, Lamy, Dupont as well as other lines. You will find pen cases, collector cabinets and inks. Store staff provide excellent assistance and will allow you to try out various nibs. One of the signs of good pen staff is when they watch you write with a pen and make suggestions on other nibs etc. Emphasis is on writing with pens, not just collecting them! Open 8:00 am - 7:00 pm. Closed over the 12-2 period. Bravo thanks. J. Willmore.
Toulouse, France
Toulouse Stylos;
26, rue d'Alsace-Lorraine
Toulouse
If has been many years since I have been here, but as I remember this store, if you get the chance, Toulouse is a wonderful city to visit, not only for the sites and atmosphere, but also for this pen store. What a store.
There are counters and counters of pens. The staff go out of their way to help you. The nice thing about a good pen is that you use it for years, and the memories of why and when you bought it remain forever. I bought my Waterman Mans 100 fountain pen here in Toulouse for my 40th birthday. At the time I was having a hard time considering whether to get the pen with a broad or medium nib. The staff here were very friendly and offered that I could try the pen out for a few days and exchange it if the nib is not right. Now this is my kind of pen store. I don't think my wife wanted us traveling back to the store for fear of what else I may buy so I made my decision and we moved on. Friendly staff, enough English spoken to make it an easy and pleasant experience for all. They will also offer to help you with VAT De-Tax forms with no hesitation.