Behind the Scenes
Behind the Scenes
I’ve already given you some great tips of where to go if you want to live out the Hollywood movie Midnight in Paris for real, but here are two more spots to put on your list if you haven’t already! The first is Place Dauphine, located on Île de la Cité in Paris. It’s here Owen Wilson and Marion Cotillard stroll during a late night walk. I love this little place because most of the time it’s so quiet and peaceful, even though it’s located, literally, in the middle of Paris. CLIP
If you’re talking about the movie Midnight in Paris, of course you can’t forget about the ending scene. Which takes place on this particular bridge, Pont Alexandre III. It’s one of Paris’ most visited bridges around the city and when you see it, you’ll understand why. It’s so big and elaborate, and absolutely gorgeous. CLIP
Behind the Scenes
Of course the behind the scenes sights from the ultimate Parisian movie Midnight in Paris can’t end there, bien sûr there’s more! It was here, at the gorgeous Hôtel Le Bristol, Rachel McAdams and Owen Wilson’s characters stayed during their Paris get away. PHOTO
When the former president’s wife, Carla Bruni-Sarkozy, has a role in the movie you can probably shoot it wherever you want to! One of the scenes she’s in takes place right here, in the cozy park behind the Notre Dame. Which just happens to be one of my favourite places in the city… PHOTO
Behind the Scenes
Even though Sex and the City only taped two episodes in Paris they really managed to get a lot of different locations in all at once. A scene I’ve always loved took place right outside, and inside, this museum in the Tuileries (now I’m not completely sure if it’s this one or the one next to it, called the Orangerie because they look almost the same). CLIP
And here, on Pont des Arts, is where the love saga between Big and Carrie finally comes to an end (if you disregard the later films of course). You couldn’t ask for a better location than this for their romantic scene together. CLIP
Behind the Scenes
Here are more locations that where featured in the last Sex and the City episodes that took place in Paris. Place Dauphine, on Île de la Cité, is a small but beautiful area. Even though it’s so close to Notre Dame very few tourists seem to find their way here. It was here Aleksandr and Carrie took a little stroll while talking about her newfound French fans. CLIP
The, now famous, restaurant Kong is where Carrie met Aleksandr’s ex-wife for lunch. I’ve never eaten here myself, perhaps because I’m afraid it’s just a tourist spot these days, but maybe I’ll have to visit next time I’m in the city (mainly because of the view they must have from up there). CLIP
Behind the Scenes
Now you can’t talk about movies that are set in Paris without mentioning Midnight in Paris - a love story with Paris as the leading star. Two scenes from the movie takes place in one of my favourite gardens in Paris, the one inside Musée Rodin, right next to his very famous statue The Thinker. CLIP
Another spot that was used when filming the movie was a corner on the island Île Saint-Louis. This is where the car stopped to drop Gil (Owen Wilson) off in front of Gertrude Stein’s house. PHOTO
Another location that is crucial to the movie is these stairs. On the stairs to the left Owen Wilson sat down when the clock struck midnight. PHOTO
Behind the Scenes
You can’t forget about the Musée du Louvre or the Rose Line when you’re talking about The Da Vinci Code since that’s both the beginning and the ending of the movie. You can find these medallions, that mark “the rose line”, on many locations in the city. I found this one near by the Louvre. Yes, it’s super geeky but I just had to look one up… CLIP
Behind the Scenes
One Disney movie that I just love (and have seen about seven times) is Ratatouille. And even though it’s an animated movie you can still find some places from the movie that actually exists for real in Paris. The restaurant where the film takes place, Gusteau, is obviously not real but people say that the story is inspired by the famous restaurant La Tour d’Argent here in the city, which also lost a few stars some years ago, just as the story in the movie.
One place that does exists for real though is the shop window where the dead rats are hanging. The window that Remy’s father showed him (I can’t find a clip…). I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw that it was for real! I took the photo from afar so that you won’t get as scared as I got when I saw it the first time.
Behind the Scenes
This bridge has served as a set for many many movies, series and photo shoots during its time, and when the tv-show Gossip Girl came to town it was no different. On this bridge Blair and Serena nibbled on macarons, laughing and talking while enjoying their summer in Paris. CLIP
Another place that you can see in the series, and that caught my eye the first time I saw it, is the adorable French brasserie Chez Julien. I can understand why they chose to feature this little restaurant in the episode — could it get any more French? At the café next door, Café Louis Philippe, the girls had their daily meet-up with the backdrop as seen in the photo above. CLIP
Behind the Scenes
Being a huge fan of the Sex and the City series (and the first movie) I thought it would be fun to share some of the locations featured in the episodes An American Girl in Paris - the episodes where Carrie moves to Paris with her russian love.
The first location being the luxurious Hôtel Plaza Athénée, where Bradshaw stays during her stay in Paris. It’s just as gorgeous in real life as you think it is on TV. The famous hotel has now even made it possible for you to enjoy Paris the Sex and the City way, with a special offer for the fans who dream about coming to the city of lights and to follow in Carrie’s (stiletto) footsteps. CLIP
The other location is the, by now, notorious Christian Dior boutique, located on the same street as the gorgeous hotel: Avenue Montaigne. Here Carrie makes her first attempt at shopping the Parisian way but fails miserably when she slips and falls in the middle of the shop… A scene that makes my worst nightmare come true! CLIP
Behind the Scenes
This might be the most pathetic and nerdy thing I’ve written, so please, if you’re not prepared: close this window right away.
The people who know me also know that I’m probably the biggest fan of adventure and action movies there is. My favourites include: Indiana Jones, James Bond, Mission Impossible and National Treasure (yes, I warned you about this post). That also means that I loooved The Da Vinci Code and its followup Angels & Demons. Those of you who share that love might recognize these pictures…
Since the beginning of The Da Vinci Code takes place here in Paris, I naturally had to see some of the places in real life. These specific photos are from the church Église Saint-Sulpice, and are featured in the scene where the albino monk visits the church in the middle of the night to follow the rose line.