20 May Visiting Locations From Movie Scenes in Paris
There are a vast array of movies that have taken place in Paris, so you are bound to run into a location you have seen before in a film; of course places like the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, Notre Dame and the Seine are frequently shown in movies, but what about the lesser known filming locations? We decided to visit a few locations from movie scenes in Paris, and here are a few of the locations that may not immediately come to mind when thinking about Paris on the big screen. Although they may have made appearances in many different movies, I’ll share my favorite ones with you.
Love Locks: Movie – Amelie
Love locks appear in many locations around the world, and their historical importance varies greatly from place to place, but ultimately, they are a symbol of everlasting love. What happens is a couple writes their names on a padlock, they lock it onto the bridge and then throw the key into the river below. It is said that when you place a lock on the bridge your love is “locked forever” and nothing can break the seal unless you retrieve the key to unlock it, which would be near impossible since it is at the bottom of the river.
There are a couple of bridges in Paris with love locks; we visited the locks on the Pont des Arts, which is supposedly the bridge where you place locks for committed love. The other bridge is Pont de l’Archevêché, which is the bridge for your lover, so be careful which bridge you choose! We didn’t bring along a lock to hook on the bridge, but if you are so inclined, you can buy one at a store in town or bring one from home! Either way, it’s an interesting sight to see!
Promenade Plantée: Movie – Before Sunset
The Promenade Plantée is a walking path that was created from an abandoned metro line in the 12th arrondissement. The path is located on a bridge and is filled with plants and trees. This promenade was the first of its kind in the world and others such as the High Line in New York have been built since. There are stores located in some spots underneath the bridge, and unless you knew the path was above, it would most likely go unnoticed. It makes for a great place to go for a walk or run and is a nice escape from the busy city.
Shakespeare and Company Bookstore: Movies – Midnight in Paris and Before Sunset
This has to be one of the coolest bookstores I have ever stepped foot in! Downstairs, the bookstore is filled with a maze of aisles upon aisles of books, but I thought the upstairs was the most interesting. Upstairs there is a library room with old books for you to read, and there is also a children’s section with a daybed type hideout to lounge in. All of the walls in this little hideout are filled with tacked up notes with people’s wishes written on them. Each purchased book is stamped on the inside cover with the signature Shakespeare and Company stamp. We purchased a couple of fun books, and I also found this one that looks like it was made just for me!
The store holds regular events such as book signings, tea times and poetry readings; it also has sleeping facilities with around 13 beds. Apparently, over 40,000 people have slept here in the past. In order to stay at the shop, you show up and ask the owner Sylvia–in exchange for a few requirements, the stay is free, but bookings cannot be made in advance and you cannot be sure of a spot. The rumor of the requirements to stay are that you work 2 hours per day, read a book a day and also write a one page biography about your life. There are thousands of these one page biographies upstairs. I think it would be such an interesting experience to stay here–hopefully it can happen one day!
The Steps of St. Etienne du Mont: Movie – Midnight in Paris
This spot isn’t much of a destination itself, but I love the movie so I just had to stop by and check the church out anyways. The ‘magic’ steps on the north side of the church, St. Etienne du Mont, are the location where Gil gets picked up at midnight and is transported back to the 1920’s. Although not much of the church is actually shown in the movie, you can stop inside for a visit. The church houses a shrine of the cities patron saint, Sainte Geneviéve, as well as the tombs of Blaise Pascal (a physicist and philosopher) and Jean Racine (a playwright). It is located near the Pantheon and not far from la Sorbonne, so if you are in the area, you might want to stop by for a quick photo op.
