A Tour of Montmarte's Iconic Filming Locations for 'Amélie'
If there’s only have time to visit one place on this list, then this is the absolute gem to hunt for. This café remains almost exactly as it was in the film except for the tobacco shop with the crazed hypochondriacal co-worker Georgette. This is the spot where the first rendezvous is arranged with Nino, her love interest, but romance is not quite on the cards yet as Amélie panics and pretends to someone else. Be sure to order a helping of Amélie’s now world-famous creme brulée while there to truly step into her universe.
The Café des 2 Moulin, 15 Rue Lepic, Paris, France, +33 01 42 54 90 50
In local-lingo, Maison Collignon is just called Chez Ali after its owner. Ali wanted to keep the signs from the film above his real-life grocers since Amélie’s apartment was located just over the store. In the film, Amélie avenges the nasty greengrocer by sneaking into his apartment and fiddling around mischievously until he no longer abuses his adorable assistant Lucien, who then takes charge of the grocery store with delight. Those keen to go away with an Amélie souvenir, stop by this place as there’s a great selection for sale alongside his fruit and veg.
This location boasts the title of being one of Paris’ oldest picture houses. Not only was it featured in Amélie’s cinema scene but it is also one of Montmartre’s last remaining hidden gems. It’s one of the lesser-visited film locations—compared with the Café des 2 Moulins that are always bustling with fans—and offers a more authentic Parisian experience that goes off the beaten tourist path. There’s only one screen, but a charming and cute café waits nearby to round off the film viewing nicely.
Cinéma Studio 28, 10 Rue Tholozé, Paris, France, +33 01 46 06 47 45
There’s a certain spark of magic while whizzing through the Abbesses Metro Station and realise it’s from the film. It’s the station next to the carousel where Amélie kindly assists the blind man and rekindles his passion for life, detailing all the delights he can’t see. Whilst the real station used for this scene was Porte des Lilas, the small and charming square of Place des Abbesses features heavily throughout the film as ardent fans will be quick to point out.
It’s impossible to embark on a tour of Amélie filming locations without posing for an iconic shot by the Sacré-Coeur. In the most playful scenes of the movie, Amélie gives another rendezvous to Nino by a phone box at the bottom of Montmartre. She concocts a treasure hunt for retrieving his book of photos where he has to climb all the 222 stairs to the top of Sacré-Coeur following blue arrows before having to race all the way back down. Not only is the view simply stunning in this spot, leaning right across the city, but it’s also full of street artists doing incredible football tricks and a hilarious mime artist reaping havoc with the traffic. As well as the carousel and phone box, look out for the telescope from the film.
Sacré-Cœur, 35 Rue du Chevalier de la Barre, Paris, France, +33 01 53 41 89 00
Amélie describes this stunning metro station on line 12 with the double split staircase going up the hill of Montmartre and the breathtaking wonders of the market on Rue Lamarck to a blind man who can’t see it for himself. It’s a great starting point for a stint of flaneur à la française: aimlessly wandering just for the fun of it in a chic corner of one of the most beautiful spots in Paris. The station opened in 1912.
