Lights, Camera, Paris! Exploring the City of Light Through Cinema
Among the most picturesque cities on earth, Paris inspires many filmmakers to use its stunning streets, buildings, and bridges for their films due to its stunning architecture and ancient landmarks. Here is a list of 10 well-known movie locations in Paris so you can stroll through the city of love and discover the stunning spots utilized for filming.
Café Des Deux Moulins
This place is one of the best Paris filming locations. With a small-town atmosphere, cobblestone streets, and city views from the hill, this cafe has long drawn visitors from all over the world because it is precisely how it was in the wildly successful film “Amelie.”
Tip: make sure to try their 'Crème Brûlée d'Amélie', their classic dish, which is Amelies’ favorite treat in the café!
Eiffel Tower
The famous iconic symbol of the city of love has been used in several famous films because of its unique architecture and structure. The iconic James Bond films use the Eiffel Tower in the background when Bond is having dinner with Juliette Verne at a restaurant on the second floor of the tower and Mayday interrupts them and chases them around. Due to its well-known features and status as the city's symbol, it has also been featured in numerous other movies.
Avenue des Champs Elysees
Because of its famous broad avenue surrounded by trees and its central location in Paris, it is the primary location for filmmaking in the city. The movies filmed in Paris, in Avenue des Champs Elysees, include Taken (2008) where Liam Neeson meets with an old CIA contact, while Audrey Hepburn and Carr Grant meet during a Marionette concert in the 1963 film Charade. It also serves as the focal point for numerous historical events and parades.
Church of Saint- Etienne-du –mont
Built in the seventeenth century, this stunning church features exquisite Persian scenery, a very ornate organ, and the grave of Saint Genevieve. The famous fantasy film named as Midnight in Paris (2011) in which beautiful Paris scenes can be seen has been filmed here where Owen Wilson's character travels back in time to meet Hemingway, Dali, and Gertrude Stein on the wide steps of this exquisite church. A must-see place where you can imagine your own Paris scenes while sitting on the gorgeous staircase.
La Grande Cascade Restaurant
Utilized in numerous French films, such as the most well-known comedic romantic picture, one of the best movies that take place in Paris named When It Sizzles (1964), in which Audrey Hepburn and William Holden enjoy dinner together, and Belle de Jour (1967), in which Severine, played by Catherine Deneuve, meets her lover in a restaurant. This restaurant is exceptionally lavish and sumptuous, including stunning interior design and exquisite artwork that is ideal for a romantic date. It also features a terrace from where you may enjoy wonderful views of the surroundings.
Pont De Bir-Hakeim
Famous places in Paris for movie locations include Pont De Bir-Hakeim, featuring a beautiful delicate steel bridge named after the World War 2 battle. Moreover, this location can be seen in well-known films such as Last Tango in Paris (1972), in which Marlon Brando first meets his beloved, and Inception (2010), in which it is employed as an unsettling mirror bridge that Ariadne made in her dream. Moreover, it features a park known as Allee des Cygnes and a striking view of the Eiffel Tower in the background, adding to its distinction. Visit it if you wish to learn about Paris's history, as it is devoted to the soldiers and contains a commemorative plaque.
Place Vendome
Place Vendome, a stunning plaza that dates to the 17th century, is featured in several films, including How to Steal a Million. The year 1966 saw Peter O. Tool test his boomerang by tossing it over his hotel; the year 2002 saw the Bourne identity, where a fast-moving car is seen pursuing; and the year 2006 saw this establishment as Langdon's stylish hotel in the da Vinci code. There’s also a special Napoleon statue in the middle of the plaza that was created by melting down opposing cannons. An essential destination for anyone who has seen all these films and wishes to see the genuine sites.
Hotel De Soubise
The exquisite architecture and interior of this magnificent mansion, built in the 18th century, have been used as a shooting location for numerous films. In the 2006 film Marie Antoinette, this location was shown. It was featured in another film, Mission Impossible Fallout (2018), where it served as the White Widow's main residence and, in the opening scene of The Day of Jackson 1973, it was the residence of the French President. Moreover, it also hosts annual music events and exhibitions.
Promenade Plantee
Known as the "Coulée Verte René Dumont," which translates to "planted promenade" or "green corridor," the Promenade Plantée is an ambitious project of urban restoration and lyrical landscaping that reaches heights of more than 30 feet/10 meters above street level at several locations. Walking distance is three miles along the abandoned railway line. It is seen in the 2008 film Before Sunset when there was a romantic stroll between Julie Delpy and Ethan Hawke. With its huge trees and climbing rose bushes that clamber over arched pergolas, the walkaway resembles a front garden accented with tiny reflecting pools.
Church of Saint Sulpice
The magnificent 17th-century church is one of the best Paris movie locations, it was featured in the 2006 film The Da Vinci Code. Where one of the most important hints leading to the discovery of the Holy Grail is contained. The renowned French artist Eugene Delacroix is well-known for his remarkable church frescoes here.
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