Top 5 Famous Movie Places to Visit in Montmartre

Top 5 Famous Movie Places to Visit in Montmartre

Our ever charming, ever beautiful Montmartre has caught the attention of big time movie makers over the years. She features in a number of French and American blockbusters, setting the perfect scene for the French capital.

You could spend a week walking through Paris and not see all of the many movie locations that the the city has to offer. Saint Sulpice Church in the 6th arrondissement featured in the groundbreaking Da Vinci Code, or the Bistrot La Renaissance seen in Tarantino’s Inglorious Bastards.

Montmartre, on the other hand, can be walked quite easily in a day. The top five famous movie places of this neighborhood are easy to visit as you make your way around the hillside by foot — ready?

1. Café des Deux Moulins in Montmartre

15 Rue Lepic

This spot comes up time and time again as an unmissable attraction in the village of Montmartre .

The Café des Deux Moulins is on the west side of the hill, not far from the I Love You Wall and Montmartre Cemetery.

The cafe features multiple times in the hit French film Amélie released back in 2002. The main character, Amélie, lives happily in Montmartre and works daily in this cafe as a server.

Still from the movie Amelie in the Café des Deux Moulins

It is a retro, diner-like cafe that was here long before the film and will be here long after. The cafe does, however, hold tightly onto the fond memories of its role in the movie.

Throughout the space there are posters and souvenirs relating the the Amélie movie. They have even altered their menu to include a few dishes named after the iconic character.

The staff at the Café des Deux Moulins are wonderfully quirky no matter the time of day, almost as an ode to Amélie herself.

Café des Deux Moulins – by Author – Mario Sánchez Prada – Wikimedia Commons

PRACTICAL INFORMATION

OPENING HOURS: MONDAY TO SUNDAY – 7am to 1:30am
ADDRESS: 15 Rue Lepic, 75018 Paris, France
METRO STATION: Abbesses

2. La Cigale in Montmartre

120 Boulevard de Rochechouart

La Cigale is a famous old theatre at the foot of Montmartre hill, near where the neighborhood merges with Pigalle.

In Midnight in Paris we are taken on an extensive journey through Paris following two characters, Adriana and Gil, from different eras who manage to form a love affair.

La Cigale – by La Cigale – Uploaded by them

There were many, many locations in the city used in the making of this film including the Rodin Museum, Seine River and even the Shakespeare and Company Bookstore.

The team made a stop in Montmartre and used la Cigale as their filming location for the scene in which the two characters supposedly visit the Moulin Rouge.

The theatre was recreated to resemble the famous cabaret venue as it would have been back in the day. Ironically, the real Moulin Rouge was only a few minutes walk away the entire time.

PRACTICAL INFORMATION

OPENING HOURS: MONDAY TO Friday – 10am til late
ADDRESS: 120 Boulevard de Rochechouart, 75018 Paris, France
METRO STATION: Pigalle, Anvers

3. Rue du Chevalier de la Barre in Montmartre

Adriana and Gil’s evening in Montmartre didn’t end with la Cigale/ Moulin Rouge. The two take a long walk through the streets of Paris, passing many landmarks along the way.

Eventually, we find them passing through Montmartre by the Sacre Coeur; a similar route to where a free guided walking tour would pass through.

Rue du Chevalier de la Barre – by Eric Chan – Wikimedia Commons

The church can be seen behind them. The two are being filmed on Rue du Chevalier de la Barre, a street that runs west to east in Montmartre as opposed to the usual southern roads down the hill.

There is a laid back, Irish pub on this road called La Virgule which is great for dodging crowds at the Sacre Coeur, and when you really need a drink.

From this street in Montmartre, the film crew brings the actors down to the bottom of the hill where they continue filming on Rue Duperré.

4. Studio 28 in Montmartre

Studio 28 is considered to be one of Montmartre’s last remaining hidden gems.

You’ll find it tucked away in the quiet streets, near the southern corner of the Montmartre Cemetery where Dalida’s tomb sits.

The cinema is a location that was used in the afore mentioned Amélie movie. It didn’t get as much screen time as the Café des Deux Moulins, but it played an important role in the progression of the narrative.

Studio 28 – by LPLT – Wikimedia Commons

Studio 28 is an independent cinema. There is only a single screen in the entire space. The cafe within the studio is a hangout for locals who know the happy hour specials and who prefer to avoid the mainstream bars in the neighborhood.

In 1930, Studio 28 saw much backlash after the screening of Salvador Dali’s and Luis Bunuel’s L’age d’or. There was so much outrange following the controversial film that there were even protests at the cinema. The film was eventually banned from being screened in France.

PRACTICAL INFORMATION

OPENING HOURS: MONDAY TO Sunday (times vary according to films)
ADDRESS: 10 Rue Tholozé, 75018 Paris, France
METRO STATION: Abbesses 

5. Rue Paul-Albert in Montmartre

We’re going deep into the 90’s with this one. Do you remember the hit rom-com starring Meg Ryan called French Kiss?

If yes, then you’ll likely remember the scene where her character is filmed throwing away the money she’d been given by a man named Kevin Klein.

This was filmed on Rue Paul-Albert, a short street running parallel to the Sacre Coeur Basilica. You can still walk this road to the day and recreate the spot where it happened; just don’t throw actual money away s’il vous plaît.

Rue Paul-Albert – by CVB – Wikimedia Commons

This was the only scene of the film to be shot in Montmartre. The rest took place in the other arrondissements around the city.

I recommend rewatching it after your visit to the French capital; not only because its probably been over 20 years since you first saw it, but also because you’ll be able to single out different attractions after your trip!