European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - April 11, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                By David Tarrant Brussels Bureau take Highway e-411 South from Brussels toward Luxembourg until the Rural belgian scenery of rolling Hills and tiny villages becomes hypnotic. That s about the Lime Many travellers do a double take Over a signpost and pull the car Over. Quot red Quot it reads. Quot Village of  come again i for Many the Village slogan alone is too intriguing to resist. But at first sight the Village of books looks no different from other storybook towns around the Beautiful ardennes Forest in the Southeast Corner of Belgium. Red lies in the Middle of the virtually unspoiled Green Walloon heartland. It s a dreamy sort of place where the River Lesse flows through peaceful moist Meadows dotted with Willows and crossed by dirt lanes and White picket fences. Founded in 1100 during the Era of Charlemagne Europe s greatest emperor red appears to have survived the ravages of 20th Century Urban life. It s narrow cobbled roads Lead to a Serene town Square anchored by a stately Gray Stone Church that kit ars Over the surrounding 18tfi Century houses. Yet looks a like the covers of books a can be deceiving. During the year the town s 450 residents play Host to More than 200,000 visitors who come usually in Spring and summer to browse through 23 secondhand Book shops five Art galleries and 10 arts and crafts boutiques. There s even a literary to shirt Booth for the books shy trendy. As a tourist spot tiny red is making a giant name for itself in an area of the country better known for War including the site of the bloody world War ii Battle of the bulge Campaign. 1 the Village of books has also received International Media coverage from the hundreds of foreign journalists working in Brussels. Quot we be had press coverage literally worldwide including television shows from Japan to Moscow Quot said Noel Angelot who helped develop the town As the used Book capital of Europe. A retired journalist who became an Oil executive Angelot turned a Hobby of Book collecting into a business almost by Accident. Ten years ago Angelot was fishing in Wales when he discovered Haye on Wye a Small British town on the Welsh Border that was devoted to one Industry the Sale of used books. After meeting Richard Booth the founder of the  concern an inspired Angelot bought his Rowsing for books in Belgium red which has 23 secondhand bookshops is known As the Quot Village of  first Bookstore in red. Then in the Spring of 1984, Angelot helped launch the idea of Continental Europe s first Village of books with an easter Book festival which since has become an annual event. The easter festival was As symbolic As it was successful. Red was literally dying. Farming had become less profitable after world War ii and most Young people had left the town to look for work in bigger cities. But the secondhand Book Industry has helped to resurrect the town. Quot what i am most pleased about was that this place was dying and now it s living Quot Angelot said during recent interview at his rare books shop Libraire Ancien Noel Angelot. Quot the King and Queen come Here regularly Quot said Angelot referring to Belgium s King Baudouin and Queen Fabiola. Quot people come from All Over the  and Many visitors love to return. Hubert Vaes comes often to red As much to escape to the Countryside As to look for inexpensive books. Quot i like to walk in the Woods and i like to read Quot said Vaes of Antwerp. Quot what better place to come huh Quot Sean Bourke an irishman who jives in Brussels said he loves red and was making his seventh visit to the annual easter Book festival. But his Friend Graham Andrews a Book collector expressed some disappointment Over his search for Good buys. Quot yeah he s so disappointed that we be already carried several bags of books Back to the car Quot said Andrews wife Agnes. \. A  a a a a a a \ a a a a / a the three Day festival which ended april 1, attracted about 15,000 visitors. On a sunny but Cool easter sunday the crowd was festive but not hurried and the town Center was blessedly free of traffic. As crowds browsed around Booths or spilled outside of bookstores loudspeakers purred with soothing strains of classical music. A. Visitors could also Sample belgian chocolates and pastries or feast on a Hearty dish of ardennes Ham in one of a dozen restaurants. For slackers there were the ubiquitous trailers Selling typical belgian fare waffles French Fries Beer and sausages Many of the books found in red were in French but there was a Good selection of books in English As Well As in dutch and German books in the shops were generally organized by both subject and language. Like a Good old bookshop red offered plenty of above a Booth that sold a Supply of old Library books from nearby army bases during the recent easter Book festival in red. Left comic books were a big seller at the festival. A a stripes Magazine april 11, 1991