Have you always dreamt of visiting some of the places in your favorite movies? Today, we present ten to you, from all sorts of movies and times. Whether it is the café where Amélie Poulain worked, the bridge where Inception was shot, or even the beautiful landscapes from Peau d’Ane, it is likely there will be a famous location in this article that you will want to visit.
1) Bridge Bir-Hakeim – Inception
In the movie: It is on this bridge with its girders and steel framework that Dom Cobb (played by Leonardo DiCaprio) teaches Ariadne (played by Ellen Paige) to create dreams at the beginning of the movie. It is a very iconic scene, especially important because it sets up the rest of the movie.
Today: The first version of this famous bridge was originally a metallic footbridge built during the 1878 World Fair and, following a contest in 1902, this bridge was built again in 1905. Today, it is the bridge with the most beautiful view of the Eiffel Tower.
2) Saint-Sulpice Church – Da Vinci Code
In the movie: The Saint-Sulpice Church is the location chosen by the murderer to find the keystone hidden in the church. In the movie, this church is supposed to be built on the ruins of an ancient temple dedicated to the goddess.
Today: The construction of this church, located in the 6th arrondissement in Paris, actually dates back to the 12th century but the current church was only built starting from 1646, during the extension work that lasted for 130 years. In 2011, the church went through a huge refurbishment that restored this church’s status, previously considered as unsightly. The marble and pagan temples in the movie actually do not exist at all, there is no need to ask the vicar.
3) Le Café des deux Moulins – Amélie (Le fabuleux destin d’Amélie Poulain)
In the movie: It is in this famous rue Lepic café that Amélie Poulain works as a waitress for the entire movie. This is where she will meet the blind man to whom she will describe the street, the passersby, the butcher’s shop, etc.… while helping him cross the street.
Today: It is with a 1950’s atmosphere that you will be welcomed into this famous café. You will be immersed in the peculiar atmosphere of the movie and will be able to taste the “Goûter d’Amélie” at any time of the day, made of a hot beverage and the mythical cardamom crème brûlée.
4) Galliera Museum – The Devil Wears Prada
In the movie: The Galliera Museum is used as a sumptuous setting for the final scene of the movie in which the character played by Meryl Streep parks in a limo in front of this magnificent building to attend a ceremony given in her honor.
Today: This museum dedicated to fashion in Paris hosts very complete expositions, including historical pieces as well as drawings and videos and from all periods!
5) Aurouze – Ratatouille
In the movie: While Ratatouille is convinced that a friendship between humans and rats is possible, thanks to his story with Remy, his father takes him to the front of a pretty odd store… Aurouze. In its front window are a great number of dead rats, as this store is specialized in products to kill rats and Ratatouille’s father wants to make him understand that rats are not welcome in the human world.
Today: This company has specialized in the fight against pests since 1872 and had already been arousing an interest for a long time, but the movie Ratatouille has definitely renewed the interest for this very odd shop. Its front window has specifically been attracting onlookers for years, as we can see embalmed rat corpses as a symbol of efficacy of the products sold there.
6) Le Café de la Paix – The Aristocats
In the movie: In 1910, when Walt Disney decided to settle the Aristocats in Paris, he had to pay a tribute to Le Café de la Paix, a symbol of the mundane life back then. In the movie, we can catch sight of this mythical café when Thomas O’Malley finds out from a mouse that Duchesse and her kittens are in danger and decides to hit the road immediately, but the mouse is not fast enough and ends up chasing after the cat. While passing by Le Café de la Paix, a man drinking wine on the terrace tells himself that it was about time he stopped drinking after witnessing this funny situation, and empties his glass of wine on the floor.
Today: This Napoléon III style café was among the most mundane cafés during the 19th century, where you could have seen Zola, Maupassant, and Tchaïkovski. Today, it is inside the Intercontinental Paris Le Grand hotel and offers you French cuisine with an unbeatable view on the Opéra.
7) L’hôtel de Soubise – Marie-Antoinette
In the movie: Marie-Antoinette makes her debut in Versailles at the Hôtel de Soubise, whose setting is historical and gives it a fake “Versailles” look to it. Although the movie was partly shot in Versailles, it is indeed at the Hôtel de Soubise that Marie-Antoinette goes into the oval office.
Today: It is no longer a hotel but a building dedicated to the National Archives where you will be able to find a great number of precious documents. The first floor of Hôtel de Soubise is dedicated to the history of archives where you will find, among others, the Edict of Nantes as well as Marie-Antoinette’s last letter.
8) Bistrot La Renaissance – Inglourious Basterds
Credits ©Bistrot La Renaissance
In the movie: In Quentin Tarantino’s famous movie, the beautiful Mélanie Laurent gets seduced by Daniel Bruhl in this 1930’s Parisian pub.
Today: This pub that became famous thanks to Quentin Tarantino’s and Claude Zidi’s movies, has kept its charm of days gone by that has made it so attractive to the movie field. Built in 1904, the decoration has not changed since the 1920’s, whether it is the geometric tiles, the golden ceiling or the neon lights. This pub is still discrete and the atmosphere there is friendly and authentic.
9) Saint-Germain de Charonne Church – Les Tontons Flingueurs
In the movie: The Saint-Germain church is where the last scene of the movie takes place, one of the most iconic, in which young Antoine proposes to mademoiselle Patricia.
Today: This church, blending in elements from the 12th century and the 15th century, has been classified as a Historical Monument since 1923 and has recently been through construction works to reinforce the base. It is thanks to André Malraux that this church has restored its former glory and you can now visit it with its splendid stained-glass as colorful and symbolic.
10) The Neuville Castle – Donkey Skin
In the movie: The director Jacques Demy preferred filming in real places rather than in studios, and therefore, decided to shoot his movie “Donkey Skin” in multiple Loire castles.
The Neuville one was used mostly for all farm scenes and scenes in the shed in the forest.
Today: This castle, located 45 minutes away from Paris, classified as a Historical Monument since 1965, is a beautiful brick and stone building, that you can book if you want to organize a dinner or wedding or even a film production. It is under the surveillance of Hortense de Labriffe, one of the descendants of the Marquis de Labriffe who had bought the property in 1795 during the French Revolution, as the previous owner, Clément de L’Averdy, had been beheaded.
This beautiful estate dating back to the 15th century has also hosted numerous other shootings, among which, we can talk about the first season of the successful show “Le Meilleur Pâtissier” (French version of the show “Bake Off”), as well as “Cyrano de Bergerac” by Jean-Paul Rappeneau, “Les Liaisons Dangereuses” by Stephen Frears, or even “Ridicule” by Patrice Leconte.
I aim to share my tips and recommendations for the beautiful country of France. My goal is to help you plan your next adventure, whether it’s a weekend getaway or a once-in-a-lifetime trip. From finding the best hotels and restaurants, to discovering unique activities and sights, I’ve got you covered!
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