The European Literature Train 2000 was among the events linked to the Year 2000 celebration in France. The Mission 2000 selected the project as a major international event demonstrating rapprochement among Europeans. From 4 June until 16 July 2000, 103 writers from 43 European countries rode the train through various European cultural spaces, following the path of the North-South Express, one of the most prestigious trains of the Belle époque.
With more than 200 events during a 19-stop, six-week journey, the project highlighted the close, long-standing connections between literature and travel. From 10 to 16 June 2000, following tours through Portugal and Spain, le Train Littérature Europe 2000 visited Bordeaux, Paris and Lille. Among the numerous events of the seven day French tour, three French writers (Jean Métellus, Jacques Jouet and Annie Saumont) took turns receiving the general public. Inspired by Thomas Woflfahrt, director of the Berlin Literary Workshop (literaturWERKstatt berlin), the European Literature Train was jointly supported by all 43 countries in greater Europe.

www.culture.gouv.fr/culture/actualites/conferen/train-litteraire.htm

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