Literature Places You Should Visit

One of the richest and most precious creations that human kind has continually added throughout time is the wide and varied history of literature that we have. Dating as far back as before the Middle Ages, we can see how the power of literature can both bring communities together and controversially tear them apart. So rich is the world’s literary history that a recent trend, titled literary tourism, has become a popular activity amongst curious travelers.

A common thread among many different iconic writers is that they tend to have a particular bar or pub associated with their patronage, and in turn, these particular bars and pubs become something of a pilgrimage which fans decide to take to pay homage to their favorite authors. Allow us to take you on an international journey featuring some of the most famous literary bars and pubs in the world.

The White Horse Tavern – New York City

Our tour begins in New York City’s White Horse Tavern, an old fashioned drinking spot in the heart of Manhattan that provided comfort and solace for the legendary poet (and legendary drinker) Dylan Thomas. The iconic author of Under Milk Wood was a regular patron of the tavern, and folklore states that it was the pub in which he beat his own personal drinking record, and the pub in which he drank his very last beverage. The White Horse Tavern has also been a favored establishment over the years to other literary figures including Jack Kerouac and Hunter S. Thompson.

Old Town Bar – New York City

We’re staying in New York City, and taking a cab to East 18th St where you will find the Old Town Bar, opened in 1892 and boasting some of the best marble and mahogany interior décor that the borough has to offer. This little gem of a bar has been the favored drinking hole of many different literary icons across the years including Seamus Heaney, Nick Hornby, Billy Collins and Frank McCourt. Known as a place where you can have a drink but still hold a conversation, the bar must have been perfect for authors to relax but still discuss their works.

El Floridita – Havana

Now we head to Cuba for something a little more tropical – the El Floridita bar which is famous for its delicious cocktails and wide array of exotic spirits. The establishment in the heart of Havana has seen many famous patrons come and go, but perhaps none more famous, in a literary sense, than the late great Ernest Hemingway. To this day, several photos of the man grace the walls of the bar, and we can be sure that he spent some time there; he was as talented a drinker as he was a writer!

The Eagle And Child – Oxford, England

As we cross the Atlantic Ocean to Europe, our first spot of literary tourism is to be done at the Eagle And Child pub in Oxford, England. Known as a city of intellectuals, the pub was a regular hang out for renowned writers such as C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien, Colin Dexter and Hugo Dyson. With a history stretching back all the way to the 17th century, you can literally feel the weight of history as you sip on a pint of delicious ale.

Les Deux Magots – Paris, France

No literary tour would be complete without a visit to Paris, and Les Deux Magots is a local symbol of literary history, known to be the favored bar and café of many of the writers who resided in France at the time including James Joyce, Jean-Paul Sartre, Albert Camus and Simone Beauvoir. Opened in 1812, Les Deux Magots fast became an intellectual hub for the Parisian elite.

Cerveceria Alemana – Madrid, Spain

If you are seeking a little more Latin flare, then the Cerveceria Alemana in the heart of Madrid is certainly worth a visit. Once again, Ernest Hemingway regarded the bar as one of his personal favorites, stating that it was a “good place to drink beer and coffee”. Offering a relaxed atmosphere good wine and beer, the Cerveceria was also visited by Victor de la Serna and Ramon del Valle-Inclan among others.

Literary Café – Saint Petersburg, Russia

Our adventure of literary tourism ends thousands of miles away from New York where we began, in the fittingly named Literary Café in Saint Petersburg, Russia. It may sometimes feel like a completely different world, but Russia too has a history of literary figures gracing their favorite establishments, with one of the most renowned being this café located on the Nevksy Prospekt. The Literary Café is written into folklore as supposedly being the place that Pushkin drank before he took part in his fatal final duel, and alongside the famous writer, other literary patrons have included Dostoevsky, Saltykov, Chernychevsky and Shchedrin.

So there you have it, a round the world tour that allows you to take in some of the most wonderful countries and cities in earth, learn about some of the greatest writers the world has ever known, and have the chance to sample delicious beverages from some of the most renowned and infamous bars and pubs in the literary world. With so many different locations and continents to choose from, all that is left is to book your flights.

The source of the infographic and pictures is AssignmentMasters.

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