New city-centre bookstore focusing on outdoor sports and nature opens in Brussels

A new store selling books on outdoor sports and nature has opened in the centre of Brussels.

Le Refuge, located at Rue du Lombard 11, features a logo of a climbing figure to evoke its subject matter, which extends to travel guides, maps and other titles.

The shop, which previously sold trainers, is the brainchild of audiovisual professional Camille Quintin. She initially planned to open a general store, but felt the capital was already well served and decided to venture into uncharted territory.

“So I decided to specialise and focus on outdoor sports, from hiking to sailing and skiing to mountaineering. That is not yet available in Brussels,” she told Bruzz.

“Since the coronavirus, outdoor sports and mountain holidays have been on the rise," added Quintin, who likes to run trails, cycle mountain climb herself.

In addition to sporting titles, Le Refuge also stocks books on biodiversity, climate change, sustainable travel, nutrition, training and women in sports.

Among literary genres available, there are adventure stories, biographies, technical books and comics, principally in French. In addition, there is a multilingual range of travel guides and cycling, walking and railway maps.

For the moment, Quintin is limiting her stock to maps and travel books to Europe in order to promote sustainable travel.

Photos: ©Camille Quintin