France Film & Photography Production Services & Camera Crews
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Filming in France
For an introduction to shooting in France see below notes on film locations, permits, when to shoot, unique local stories, costs, tax incentives, crews, talent, fringes, premiums, equipment, communications, art department, studios, post facilities, visas and work permits for filming, transport, film-friendly accommodation, and safety advice.
France Film Locations
For a relatively small country, France offers a great diversity of film locations. France is known for the vibrant cities of Paris, Marseille, and Lyon. The country offers Ancient Roman, Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque, Neoclassical, Egyptian Revival, Beaux-Arts, Art Nouveau, Art Deco, Modernist, and Contemporary architecture. Film locations include palaces, châteaus, castle ruins, churches, abbeys, mosques, museums, hotels, cafes, restaurants, entertainment venues, stadiums, viaducts, picturesque villages, canals, snow-capped mountains, ski resorts, lakes, rivers, waterfalls, forests, caves, dunes, beaches, lighthouses, and historic battle sites.
Agricultural film locations include fields of wheat, barley, corn, rapeseed, sugarcane, sunflowers, sugar beets, grapes, apples, potatoes, and lavender. France is a major producer of wine, cheese, and foie gras. Fishing trawlers are available for filming. Tourism is an important economic sector with France being the world’s most visited county. French factories produce aerospace and defense products, ships, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, textiles, and automobiles. Mining is limited to a handful of quarries. Energy film locations include nuclear power plants, coal-fired power plants, hydroelectric dams, as well as wind and solar power facilities.
France has hosted many productions including Anatomy of a Fall (2023), The Nun II (2023), The French Dispatch (2020), Mission: Impossible – Fallout (2018), Wonder Woman (2017), Dunkirk (2017), Midnight in Paris (2011), Inception (2010), Inglourious Basterds (2009), Julie & Julia (2009), The Da Vinci Code (2006), Love Actually (2003), The Bourne Identity (2002), Amelie (2001), Chocolat (2000), The Ninth Gate (1999), Saving Private Ryan (1998), City of Lost Children (1995), La Cérémonie (1995), Last Tango in Paris (1972), To Catch a Thief (1955), and An American in Paris (1951) to name a few.
French cinema has a long illustrious history with directors such as Francois Truffaut, Jean-Luc Godard, Roman Polanski, Luc Besson, Jean-Pierre Jeunet, Claude Chabrol, and Gaspar Noe, to name a few.
Paris and Marseilles are the main production centres but some crews and equipment can also be found in Aquitaine, Rhone Alpes, Nord Pas de Calais and other provinces.
Film locations of note can be divided into the following administrative regions:
Île-de-France
This northern region includes the departments of Paris, Essonne, Hauts-de-Seine, Seine-Saint-Denis, Seine-et-Marne, Val-de-Marne, Val-d’Oise, and Yvelines.
Paris is the capital and largest city in France. Known as the City of Lights, Paris is a global capital of art, fashion, design, gastronomy, and culture, Paris is also a major global film production centre especially for French language films, and commercial shoots. The city is known for its impressive Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque, Neoclassical, Egyptian Revival, Beaux-Arts, Art Nouveau, Art Deco, Modernist, and Contemporary architecture.
Parisian neighbourhoods of note include Montmartre, Le Marais, Saint-Germain-des-Près, Latin Quarter, Montparnasse, South Pigalle, Haut Marais, Belleville, and Bastille.
Iconic locations include Eiffel Tower, Champs-Élysées, Arc de Triomphe, and the Panthéon.
The River Seine passes through the city. It is crossed by Le Pont Alexandre-III, Le Pont des Arts, Le Pont Bir-Hakeim, Le Pont Charles de Gaulle, Le Pont de la Concorde, Le Pont Mirabeau, Le Pont-Neuf, and Le Pont Royal.
Government buildings of note include the Palais Bourbon, Palais de l’Élysée Presidential Residence, Hôtel de Matignon Prime Minister’s Residence, Hôtel de Ville, Palais de Justice de Paris, The Conciergerie, Tribunal Judiciaire de Paris designed by architect Renzo Piano, Cour de Cassation, Conseil d’État, Embarcadère du Ministère des Finances, and Bourse de Commerce.
Squares of note include Place Vendôme, Place des Victoires, Place de la Concorde, Place des Vosges, Place Dauphine, Place de l’Hôtel-de-Ville, and Place de la Bastille.
Religious locations include Notre-Dame de Paris, Sacré-Cœur de Montmartre, Sainte-Chapelle, Église Saint-Eustache, Saint-Étienne-du-Mont, Notre Dame des Champs designed by Gustave Eiffel, Notre-Dame-de-Lorette, Notre-Dame-de-Bonne-Nouvelle, Basilique Ste-Clotilde, Église Saint-Augustin de Paris, Église Saint-Merry, Église du Saint-Esprit, Église Saint-Pierre-de-Chaillot, Saint-Germain-des-Prés, Saint-Gervais-Saint-Protais, Église Saint-Roch, Église Saint-Paul-Saint-Louis, Temple du Marais, Église Notre-Dame du Val-de-Grâce, Église Saint-Sulpice, Église Sainte-Marie-Madeleine, Église Saint-Vincent-de-Paul, Chapelle Expiatoire, Saint-Germain-l’Auxerrois, Saint-Jean de Montmartre, Grande Synagogue de Paris, and Grande Mosquée de Paris.
Burial places include the Catacombs of Paris, Cimetière du Père-Lachaise, Cimetière du Montparnasse, and Cimetière de Montmartre.
Museums of note include the Louvre Museum and Pyramid designed by I. M. Pei, Musée d’Orsay, Musée de l’Orangerie, Centre Georges Pompidou designed by Renzo Piano and Richard Rogers, Fondation d’entreprise Louis-Vuitton designed by Frank Gehry, Musée Rodin, Musée Picasso, Quai Branly-Jacques Chirac Museum designed by Jean Nouvel, Institut du Monde Arabe designed by Jean Nouvel, Fondation Cartier pour l’Art Contemporain designed by Jean Nouvel, Cité des Sciences et de l’Industrie, Musée Marmottan Monet, Musée de Cluny, Musée d’Art Moderne de Paris, Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, Musée Jacquemart-André, Petit Palais, Musée Carnavalet, Musée des Arts Décoratifs, Musée Nissim de Camondo, Gobelins Manufactory, Musée des Arts et Métiers, Musée Guimet, Sèvres – Cité de la Céramique, Musée de la Légion d’honneur, Musée Fragonard d’Alfort, and Musée des Arts Forains. Hôtel des Invalides houses the Musée de l’Armée, Musée des Plans-Reliefs, and the Musée d’Histoire Contemporaine. Grand Palais houses the Galeries nationales du Grand Palais, and the Palais de la Découverte. Palais de Chaillot houses the Musée National de la Marine, Musée de l’Homme, and Cité de l’architecture et du patrimoine.
Entertainment venues include The Moulin Rouge, Opéra Garnier, Philharmonie de Paris designed by Jean Nouvel, Maison de la Radio et de la Musique which is a modernist structure, Théâtre du Châtelet, Odéon-Théâtre de l’Europe, Comédie-Française, La Cinémathèque Française designed by Frank Gehry, Opéra Bastille, Théâtre des Champs-Élysées, Olympia, Casino de Paris, Le Bataclan, and La Cigale.
Siège du Parti Communiste Français was designed by Oscar Niemeyer.
Hotels of note include Four Seasons Hôtel George V, Ritz Paris, Peninsula Paris, Hôtel D’Aubusson, Hôtel Maison Souquet, Nolinski Paris, Le Narcisse Blanc, Saint James Paris, Hôtel de Crillon, Hôtel Lutetia, Shangri-La Paris, Le Meurice Paris, Le Roch Hotel & Spa, Maison Souquet, Grand Hôtel du Palais Royal, Le Pavillon de la Reine, Hôtel Raphaël, and Hôtel Molitor.
Cafes of note include Cafe De L’Homme, Le Vrai Paris, Café de Flore, Odette Paris, Laduree, Au Vieux Paris D’Arcole, Les Deux Magots, Le Saint Germain, Café Procope, Café de la Rotonde, and Le Café Crème.
Restaurants of note include Guy Savoy, Le Cinq, Le Pré Catalan, Le Train Bleu, Beefbar Vendome, Le Chardenoux, Lapérouse, Kong, Le Meurice Alain Ducasse, Le Ciel de Paris, Pink Mamma, Le Grand Véfour, L’Escargot Montorgueil, Tour d’Argent, and Bouillon Chartier.
Shopping locations include Le Bon Marché Rive Gauche, Galeries Lafayette Haussmann, Printemps Haussmann, La Samaritaine, Passage Du Grand-Cerf, and Marché Poncelet.
Centres of higher learning include The Sorbonne, Lycée Carnot school designed by Gustave Eiffel, École des Beaux-Arts, École Militaire, Observatoire de Paris, Conservatoire de Paris, Sainte-Geneviève Library, Bibliothèque Nationale de France, Bibliothèque Mazarine, Bibliothèque Richelieu-Louvois, and the Institut de France.
Sporting venues of note include the following: Stade de France which hosted the 2024 Summer Olympics, 2023 & 2007 & 1999 Rugby World Cup, 1998 FIFA World Cup, UEFA Euro 2016, and 2003 World Athletics Championships. Roland Garros stadium which hosts the French Open tennis Grand Slam. Other sporting venues of note include Parc des Princes, Stade Jean-Bouin, Olympics Aquatics Centre, Porte de La Chapelle Arena, and Accor Arena. Horse racing venues include Auteuil Hippodrome, Hippodrome de Longchamp, and Hippodrome de Vincennes.
Transport locations include the following. Paris Métro is known for its Art Nouveau station entrances. Train stations of note include Gare du Nord, Gare de Lyon, Gare de l’Est, and Gare Saint-Lazare.
Gardens include Jardin Des Tuileries, Jardin du Luxembourg, Coulée Verte René-Dumont, Bois de Vincennes, Parc Monceau, and Jardin Des Plantes.
Hôtel-Dieu is the oldest hospital in France.
La Cité de Refuge was designed by Le Corbusier.
Flower Tower is a unique building.
Galerie de Valois is a popular film location.
La Santé Prison is said to be one of the world’s worst prisons.
Paris is a major centre for gastronomy with everything from Michelin star haute cuisine restaurants to neighborhood bistros serving French classics.
Essonne. Film locations include Château de Courances, Château de Chamarande, Maison-Musée Jean Cocteau, Maison Caillebotte, Musée Volant Salis, Évry Cathedral designed by Mario Botta, and Aéroport de Paris-Orly.
Hauts-de-Seine. La Défense is a major business district known for its modern city skyline. Film locations of note include Grande Arche designed by Paul Andreu, Fontaine d’Agam designed by Yaacov Agam, and Japan Bridge designed by Kurokawa Kisho.
Châteaus of note include Château de Malmaison, Château de Sceaux, and Château Rothschild.
La Seine Musicale was designed by Shigeru Ban.
Grande Lunette is located in Meudon.
Museums include Musée des Années Trente, and Musée Albert Kahn.
Parc de Saint-Cloud is located in Hauts-de-Seine.
Seine-Saint-Denis. Film locations include Musée de l’air et de l’espace, Basilique Royale de Saint-Denis, Maison d’Education de la Légion d’Honneur, and Parc Georges-Valbon.
Seine-et-Marne. Fontainebleau is a famous bouldering location popular with rockclimbers. It is also known for Château de Fontainebleau.
Other châteaus of note include Château de Vaux-le-Vicomte, and Château de Ferrières which featured in The Ninth Gate (1999).
Meaux is known for the Musée de la Grande Guerre WWI museum, and Cathédrale Saint-Étienne de Meaux.
La Commanderie des Templiers is located in Coulommiers.
Provins is a picturesque town.
Disneyland Paris is located in Seine-et-Marne.
Val-de-Marne. Vincennes is known for Château de Vincennes, and Hôtel de Ville.
Museums include Musée d’Art Contemporain du Val-de-Marne, and Musée de la Résistance Nationale in Champigny-sur-Marne.
Val-d’Oise. Châteaus of note include Château d’Écouen which is home to the Musée national de la Renaissance, Château de La Roche-Guyon, Château de Villarceaux, Château d’Auvers, and Château de Grouchy.
Abbeys of note include Abbaye de Royaumont, and Abbaye de Maubuisson.
Axe Majeur is a public footbridge sculpture.
Auvers-sur-Oise is a picturesque village painted by Vincent Van Gogh.
Aéroport de Paris-Charles-de-Gaulle, designed by Paul Andreu, is located in Val-d’Oise.
Yvelines. Versailles Palace is a former royal residence built by King Louis XIV. Film locations include the Royal Apartments, Ambassador’s Staircase, Salons, Hall of Mirrors, Royal Chapel, Royal Opera, Museum of the History of France, Versailles Orangerie, Gardens of Versailles, Petit Trianon, and Grand Trianon.
Château of note include Château de Saint-Germain-en-Laye which is home to the Musée d’Archéologie Nationale, Château de Thoiry, Château de Maisons, and Château de Rambouillet.
Villa Savoye was designed by Le Corbusier.
Académie Équestre de Versailles is a Royal Stables.
Île-de-France regional cuisine of note includes baguettes, croissants, croque-monsieur, béarnaise sauce, gâteau opera, vol-au-vent, baba au rhum, bûche de noël, crème brûlée, and macarons.
Hauts-de-France
This most northern region includes the departments of Aisne, Nord, Oise, Pas-de-Calais, and Somme.
Aisne. Film locations include Hôtel de Ville de Saint-Quentin, Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Laon, Cathédrale Saint-Gervais-et-Saint-Protais de Soissons, Abbaye de Saint-Michel en Thiérache, and Château-Thierry American Monument WWI memorial.
Nord. Lille is known for Hôtel de Ville de Lille, La Vieille Bourse, Basilique-cathédrale Notre-Dame-de-la-Treille de Lille, Villa Cavrois modernist mansion, Musée d’Histoire Naturelle de Lille, Palais des Beaux-Arts de Lille, La Piscine, Théâtre Sébastopol, Opéra de Lille, Stade Pierre-Mauroy, Porte de Paris, and Gare de Lille-Flandres.
Dunkerque is known for Mairie de Dunquerke, Église Saint-Éloi, Dunkirk War Museum, Musée Portuaire, and Phare de Dunkerque. Dunkirk (2017) filmed in Dunkerque.
Musée Départemental Henri Matisse is located ind Le Cateau-Cambrésis.
Oise. Film locations include Château de Chantilly, Château de Pierrefonds, Château de Compiègne, Cathédrale Saint-Pierre de Beauvais, Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Senlis, Musée Vivant du Cheval, Glade of the Armistice WWI site, and the picturesque town of Gerberoy.
Pas-de-Calais. Calais film locations include Hôtel de Ville de Calais, Église Notre-Dame, Théâtre de Calais, Cité de la Dentelle et de la Mode, Musée des Beaux-Arts, Phare de Calais, and Port Boulogne Calais.
Coquelles connects the French side of the Channel Tunnel.
Musée du Louvre-Lens was designed by Kazuyo Sejima.
Arras is known for Hôtel de Ville, and the Grand’Place.
Canadian National Vimy Memorial is a WWI site.
WWII bunkers include La Coupole, Batterie Todt, and Blockhaus d’Éperlecques.
Somme. Amiens is known for Basilique Cathédrale Notre-Dame d’Amiens, Musée de Picardie, Musée de l’Hôtel de Berny, Maison de Jules Verne, and Cirque Jules-Verne.
Mers-les-Bains is a resort town.
Senlis and Bergues are charming small towns.
Musée Somme 1916 is a WWI museum located in Albert.
Australian National Memorial is a WWI site located in Villers-Bretonneux.
Pozières Memorial is a WWI site.
Collégiale Saint-Vulfran is located in Abbeville.
Châteaus of note include Château de Bagatelle, and Château de Bertangles.
Parc du Marquenterre is known for its birdwatching.
Hauts-de-France regional dishes of note include moules marinières, flamiche, tarte au maroilles, and palets de dames.
Normandy
This northwestern region includes the departments of Calvados, Eure, Manche, Orne, and Seine-Maritime.
Calvados. Caen film locations include Caen Hôtel de Ville, Abbaye aux Hommes, Abbaye aux Dames, Église Saint-Pierre, Château de Caen, Musée de Normandie, Musée des Beaux-Arts de Caen, Mémorial de Caen, Jardin des Plantes, Gare de Caen, and Stade Michel d’Ornano.
Honfleur is known for the Port of Honfleur, and Église Sainte Catherine.
Bayeux is known for Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Bayeux, Museum of the Battle of Normandy, and Musée de la Tapisserie de Bayeux.
Deauville is known for Hotel Barrière Le Normandy Deauville, and Plage de Deauville.
Cabourg is a beach resort town.
Beuvron-en-Auge is a beautiful village.
Château de Falaise was a castle of William The Conqueror.
Basilique Sainte-Thérèse de Lisieux is a beautiful film location.
WWII D-Day sites of note include Omaha Beach, Juno Beach, D-Day Museum, Museum of the Battle of Normandy, Overlord Museum, 1944 Radar Museum, Longues-sur-Mer Battery, and Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial which was filmed for Saving Private Ryan (1998).
Eure. Évreux locations include Hôtel de Ville, Évreux Cathedral, and Église Saint-Taurin.
Claude Monet’s Home is located in Giverny.
Châteaus of note include Château de Beaumesnil, Château de Gaillon, Castle Vascoeuil, Château de Tilly, Château de Saint-Hilaire, Château de Rosay, and Château de Brécourt.
Castle ruins of note include Château Gaillard, and Château de Gisors.
Picturesque towns include Lyons-la-Forêt, and Le Bec-Hellouin.
Other beautiful film locations in Eure include Notre-Dame de Louviers, Cathédrale Notre-Dame d’Évreux, Abbaye Notre-Dame du Bec, and the Old Mill of Vernon.
Manche. Cherbourg is known for La Cité de la Mer, and Château des Ravalet.
Mont Saint Michel is an iconic abbey located on a tidal island.
WWII D-Day sites include Utah Beach, Normandy Victory Museum, and Airborne Museum.
Châteaus of note include Château de Gratot, Château de Pirou, and Château des Montgommery.
Chausey is a group of small islands.
Fort Îles Saint-Marcouf lies off the coast of Normandy.
Barfleur is picturesque coastal town.
Other film locations in Manche include Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Coutances, Fortifications of Vauban, Phare de Gatteville, and Abbaye de Cerisy.
Orne. Haras national du Pin is a horse stud.
Châteaus of note include Château de Carrouges, Château des Ducs d’Alençon, Château d’O, and Château des Rêves.
Churches of note include Basilique Notre-Dame de Montligeon, and Basilique Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Sées.
Musée des Beaux-arts et de la Dentelle d’Alençon is a museum dedicated to lace.
Saint-Céneri-le-Gérei is a pretty town.
Seine-Maritime. Le Havre is known for Palais De Justice, Cathédrale Notre-Dame du Havre, Église Saint-Joseph, Bibliothèque Université Le Havre, Musée d’Art Moderne André Malraux, Muséum d’Histoire Naturelle, Prieuré de Graville, Le Volcan at the Maison de la Culture du Havre designed by Oscar Niemeyer, Stade Océane, Le Havre Les Bains Des Docks Aquatic Center, Gare du Havre, Port du Havre, and Aéroport du Havre-Octeville.
Rouen is known for Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Rouen, Abbaye Saint-Ouen de Rouen, L’église Sainte-Jeanne-d’Arc, Eglise Paroissiale Saint-Maclou, Château Bouvreuil, Gros-Horloge astronomical clock, Musée des Beaux-Arts de Rouen, Historial Jeanne d’Arc, Jardin des Plantes de Rouen, Pont Gustave-Flaubert, and Gare de Rouen.
Palais Bénédictine Liqueur Distillery is a beautiful film location in Fécamp.
Châteaus of note include Château de Dieppe, Château de Martainville, and Château du Taillis.
Abbeys of note include Abbaye Saint-Georges de Boscherville, and Abbaye de Jumièges ruins.
Etretat is famous for its natural arches and white chalk alabaster sea cliffs.
Normandy regional delicacies of note include camembert cheese, brioche, l’omelette de la mère poulard, tripes à la mode de caen, marmite dieppoise, agneau de pré salé, escalope normande, les moules de barfleur, andouille de vire, crêpes normande, and calvados brandy.
Grand-Est
This northeastern region includes the departments of Ardennes, Aube, Bas-Rhin, Marne, Haute-Marne, Haut-Rhin, Meurthe-et-Moselle, Meuse, Moselle, and Vosges.
Ardennes. Film locations include Place Ducale in Charleville-Mézières, Hôtel de Ville de Rethel, Château de Sedan, Fort de Charlemont, the beautiful riverside town of Dinant, and the Ardennes Forest.
Aube. Troyes is known for its half-timbered houses, Hôtel de Ville, Cathédrale Saint-Pierre-et-Saint-Paul de Troyes, Basilique Saint-Urbain de Troyes, and Gare de Troyes.
Châteaus of note include Château de la Cordelière, Château de La Motte-Tilly, Chateau de Vaux, and Château de Chacenay.
Bas-Rhin. Strasbourg film locations include Palais Rohan, Palais du Rhin, Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Strasbourg, Église Saint-Thomas, La Petite France, Université de Strasbourg, Château de Pourtalès, Musée d’Art Moderne et Contemporain de Strasbourg, Musée Alsacien, Musée Historique de la Ville de Strasbourg, Château Musée Vodou, Musée Tomi Ungerer, Ponts Couverts de Strasbourg, Barrage Vauban, Parc de l’Orangerie, Hoenheim Nord Terminus designed by Zaha Hadid, and Gare de Strasbourg-Ville. Strasbourg is the home of European Union institutions including the Council of Europe, European Parliament, and The European Court of Human Rights which was designed by Richard Rogers.
Castles of note include Château du Haut-Kœnigsbourg, and Château de Lichtenberg.
Église Paroissiale Saint-Jean Baptiste is a beautiful film location in Niederhaslach.
Picturesque towns include Hunspach, and Mittelbergheim.
Ouvrage Schoenenbourg is a Maginot Line fortification.
Marne. Reims is the city where French kings were coronated. Film locations include Notre-Dame de Reims, Palais du Tau, Basilique Saint-Remi, Porte de Mars, Bibliothèque Carnegie de Reims, Musée Automobile Reims-Champagne, Musée des Beaux-Arts, Opéra de Reims, Manège et Cirque de Reims, Stade Auguste Delaune, Gare de Champagne-Ardenne TGV, and Gare de Reims.
Valmy is the site of the French Revolutionary War Battle of Valmy.
Champagne cellars in Épernay include Moet et Chandon, and Mercier.
Haute-Marne. Film locations of note include Mémorial Charles De Gaulle, Château de Donjeux, Château de Dinteville, Château du Grand Jardin, Cathédrale Saint-Mammès de Langres, Viaduc de Chaumont, and the picturesque town of Langres.
Haut-Rhin. Colmar is known for Église Saint-Martin, La Petite Venise, Musée Unterlinden, Musée Bartholdi, Musée du Jouet, Maison Pfister, Maison des Têtes, and Théâtre Municipal de Colmar.
Mulhouse is known for Temple Saint-Étienne, Musée Historique de Mulhouse, Cité du Train, Musée National de l’Automobile, Musée Electropolis, Musée des Beaux-Arts de Mulhouse, Gare de Mulhouse-Ville, and EuroAirport Basel Mulhouse Freiburg.
Picturesque towns include Riquewihr, Eguisheim, and Hunawihr.
Château de Saint-Ulrich is a castle ruin.
Abbaye de Murbach is located in Haut-Rhin.
Meurthe-et-Moselle. Nancy is known for Place Stanislas, Palais ducal du Nancy, Porte Héré, Cathédrale Notre-Dame-de-l’Annonciation et Saint-Sigisbert, Église des Cordeliers de Nancy, Église Notre-Dame-de-Bonsecours de Nancy, Musée des Beaux-Arts de Nancy, Opéra National de Lorraine, Parque de la Pépinière, Gare de Nancy-Ville, and Aéroport de Metz–Nancy–Lorraine.
Château de Lunéville is a residence of the Duke of Lorraine.
Basilique de Saint-Nicolas-de-Port is located in Meurthe-et-Moselle.
Meuse. WWI sites include Ossuaire de Douaumont, Le Mémorial de Verdun, Fort de Douaumont, Meuse-Argonne American Memorial, and Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery.
Verdun is known for Porte Chaussée, La Citadelle, Notre-Dame de Verdun and Centre Mondial de la Paix.
Châteaus of note include Château des Monthairons, and Château de Thillombois.
Église Notre-Dame de Mont-devant-Sassey is located in Meuse.
Moselle. Metz is known for Metz Centre Pompidou-Metz designed by Shigeru Ban, Le Palais du Gouverneur, Cathédrale Saint Étienne de Metz, Temple Neuf, Porte des Allemands, Opéra-Théâtre de Metz Métropole, Arsenal de Metz, Musée de la Guerre de 1870 et de l’Annexion, Arènes de Metz, Stade Municipal Saint-Symphorien, and Gare de Metz-Ville.
Lorraine American Cemetery and Memorial is a WWII site.
Rocher de Dab is a hilltop church.
Château Saint-Sixte is located in Moselle.
Vosges. Churches of note include Cathédrale Saint-Dié de Saint-Dié-des-Vosges, and Basilique Sainte-Jeanne-d’Arc.
Remiremont is a picturesque town.
Grand-Est regional dishes of note include quiche lorraine, choucroute garnie, pot-au-feu, andouillette, tarte flambée, and madeleines. Champagne is famous for its sparkling wine. Alsace is known for its Riesling, Pinot Gris, and Gewürztraminer wines.
Brittany
This northwestern region includes the departments of Côtes-d’Armor, Finistère, Ille-et-Vilaine, Loire-Atlantique, and Morbihan.
The GR 34 is a long-distance hiking trail that follows the Brittany coast.
Côtes-d’Armor. Châteaus of note include Château de La Roche Goyon, Château de la Roche-Jagu, Château de Dinan, and Château de Quintin.
Castel Meur is a small cottage wedged between two large boulders.
Pretty towns of note include Dinan, Lannion, Lamballe, Tréguier, Guingamp, and Moncontour.
Lighthouses of note include Phare de Men Ruz, and Phare Du Cap Frehel.
Cité des Télécoms is a unique museum.
Vallée des Saints is a valley of stone statues.
Île-de-Bréhat is located in Côtes-d’Armor.
Finistère. Phare de la Jument is a lighthouse famous for the large waves that crash into it during heavy storms. Other lighthouses of note include Phare de Kermorvan, Phare du Petit Minou, Phare de l’île Vierge, Phare d’Eckmühl, Phare d’Ar-Men, and Grand Phare de l’ile de Sein.
Château de Kerjean is a beautiful film location.
Churches of note include Cathédrale Saint-Paul-Aurélien, and Cathédrale Saint-Corentin de Quimper.
The walled town of Concarneau is located in Finistère.
Pretty towns of note include Quimper, and Locronan.
Site de Meneham is a cottage between granite rocks.
Parc naturel régional d’Armorique is a landscape of beaches, swamps, and jagged rocks.
Islands of note include Molène, and Ouessant.
Ille-et-Vilaine. Rennes is known for Parlement de Bretagne, Palais Saint-Georges, Cathédrale Saint-Pierre de Rennes, Opéra de Rennes, Musée des Beaux Arts, and Le Roazhon Park.
Saint-Malo is a beautiful port city. La Cérémonie (1995) filmed in Saint-Malo.
Saint-Suliac, and Cancale are beautiful coastal towns.
Castles of note include Château de Vitré, and Château de Fougères.
Manoir de l’Automobile is located in Lohéac.
Morbihan. Châteaus of note include Château de Suscinio, and Château de Josselin.
Pretty towns of note include Rochefort-en-Terre, and Vannes.
Basílica de Sainte-Anne d’Auray is a beautiful film location.
Lorient Submarine Base is a WWII U-boat base.
Islands of note include Groix, and Belle-Île-en-Mer.
Brittany regional dishes of note include cotriade, cancale oysters, crêpes de st malo, galette-saucisse, galettes de bretagne, poulet à la bretonne, poulet au cidre, and kouign-amann.
Pays de la Loire
This western region includes the departments of Loire-Atlantique, Maine-et-Loire, Mayenne, Sarthe, and Vendée.
Loire-Atlantique. Nantes film locations include Place Royale, Château des ducs de Bretagne, Cathédrale Saint-Pierre-et-Saint-Paul de Nantes, Basilique Saint-Nicolas de Nantes, Musée d’Arts de Nantes, Muséum d’Histoire Naturelle de Nantes, Musée Dobrée, Musée Jules Verne, Les Machines de l’Île, Unité d’Habitation of Nantes-Rezé designed by Le Corbusier, Zénith de Nantes Métropole, Théâtre Graslin, Jardin des Plantes, Stade de la Beaujoire, Gare de Nantes, and Aéroport Nantes Atlantique.
Saint-Nazaire film locations include Saint-Nazaire Submarine Base is a WWII U-boat base, Escal’Atlantic, Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard, and Saint-Nazaire Bridge.
Châteaus of note include Château de la Bretesche, and Château de Ranrouët.
Maine-et-Loire. Angers film locations include Château d’Angers, Grand Théâtre, Cathédrale Saint-Maurice d’Angers, Église Notre-Dame des Victoires, Abbaye du Ronceray, La Maison Bleue, Maison d’Adam, Musée des Beaux-Arts d’Angers, Muséum des Sciences Naturelles d’Angers, Musée Pincé, and Stade Raymond Kopa.
Châteaus of note include Château de Brissac, and Château du Plessis-Bourré.
Montsoreau is a picturesque town.
Parc Oriental de Maulévrier is located in Maine-et-Loire.
Mayenne. Château of note include Château de Sainte-Suzanne, and Château de Laval.
Sarthe. Le Mans film locations include Cathédrale St-Julien du Mans, Notre-Dame de la Couture, Cité Plantagenêt, Musée De Tessé, and Circuit des 24 Heures du Mans which is the world’s oldest active car race.
Châteaus of note include Château du Lude, Château de Sourches, and Hotel Château du Grand-Lucé.
Churches of note include Église Notre Dame des Marais, and Abbaye Saint-Pierre de Solesmes.
Vendée. Les Sables-d’Olonne is a seaside town famous for the Golden Globe Race round the world yacht race, and the Vendée Globe round the world solo sailing race.
Other Vendée film locations include Cathédrale Notre-Dame-de-l’Assomption de Luçon, Historial de la Vendée, Château de Noirmoutier, Donjon Bazoges en Pareds, and the picturesque town of Vouvant.
Pays de la Loire regional dishes of note include brioche vendéenne, préfou, marmite sarthoise, beurre blanc sauce, chasseur sauce, le mans rillettes de porc, caneton tour d’argent, gâche vendéenne, rillauds, sablé, chaussons aux pommes, and gâteau nantais. The Loire Valley is famous for its Sauvignon Blanc, Loire Vouvray, Loire Pouilly-Fume, Chinon, Marsanne, and Muscadet wines.
Centre-Val de Loire
This central region includes the departments of Cher, Eure-et-Loir, Indre, Indre-et-Loire, Loir-et-Cher, and Loiret.
Cher. Bourges film locations include Cathédrale Saint-Étienne de Bourges, Palais Jacques Cœur, and its half-timbered houses.
Châteaus of note include Château de Meillant, Château de la Verrerie, Château de Menetou-Salon, and Château d’Apremont-sur-Allier.
Eure-et-Loir. Chartres film locations include Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Chartres, Église Saint-Aignan, and Musée des Beaux-Arts.
Châteaus of note include Château de Maintenon, Château d’Anet, Chateau de Châteaudun, Château de Nogent le Roi, Château des Boulard, Château de Courtalain, Château de Charbonnières, and Château des comtes du Perche.
Chapelle royale de Dreux is located in Eure-et-Loir.
Indre. Châteaus of note include Château de Valençay, Château de Bouges, Château de l’Isle Savary, and Château de Gien.
Picturesque towns include Argenton-sur-Creuse, Gargilesse-Dampierre, and Saint-Benoît-du-Sault.
Indre-et-Loire. Tours film locations include Cathédrale Saint-Gatien de Tours, Basilique Saint-Martin de Tours, Hôtel de Ville, Musée des Beaux-Arts de Tours, Grand Théâtre, and Hôtel Goüin.
Châteaus of note include Château d’Ussé, Château de Chenonceau, Château d’Azay-le-Rideau, Château de Villandry, Château Royal d’Amboise, Château de Chinon, Château de Langeais, Château de Loches, Château de Montpoupon, Château de Montrésor, and Château du Clos Lucé.
Picturesque towns of note include Candes-Saint-Martin, Crissay-sur-Manse, and Montrésor.
Loir-et-Cher. Blois film locations include Château de Chambord, Château Royal de Blois, La Maison de la Magie Robert-Houdin, Hôtel de Ville, Cathédrale Saint-Louis de Blois, Église Saint-Nicolas, and Pont Jacques-Gabriel.
Châteaus of note include Château de Cheverny, Château de Fougères-sur-Bièvre, Château de Chaumont, Château de Villesavin, Château de Meslay, Château de Saint-Aignan, and Château de Menars.
Lavardin is a picturesque town.
Musée Espace Automobiles Matra is located in Loir-et-Cher.
Loiret. Orléans film locations include Basilique Cathédrale Sainte-Croix d’Orléans, Musée des beaux-arts d’Orléans, Musée Historique et Archéologique, Maison de Jeanne d’Arc, and Hôtel Groslot.
Château de Sully-sur-Loire, Château de Meung-sur-Loire, Château de La Ferté-Saint-Aubin, Château de Saint Brisson-sur-Loire, and Château de Bellegarde.
Centre-Val de Loire is known for its cheeses including le roule, coeur de touraine, chavignol, bûcheron, faisselle, and selles-sur-cher. Other Centre-Val de Loire regional dishes include rillettes de tours, pithiviers, and tarte tatin. The Loire Valley is famous for its Sauvignon Blanc, Loire Vouvray, Loire Pouilly-Fume, Chinon, Marsanne, and Muscadet wines.
Burgundy-Franche-Comté
This eastern region includes the departments of Côte-d’Or, Doubs, Haute-Saône, Jura, Nièvre, Saône-et-Loire, Territoire de Belfort, and Yonne.
Côte-d’Or. Dijon film locations include Palais des ducs et des États de Bourgogne, Cathédrale Saint-Bénigne de Dijon, Église Notre-Dame de Dijon, Église Saint-Michel de Dijon, Musée des Beaux-Arts de Dijon, Muséum d’histoire naturelle de Dijon, Musée Magnin, Hôtel-Dieu, and Jardin botanique de l’Arquebuse.
Châteaus of note include Château de La Rochepot, Château de Châteauneuf, Chateau de Savigny-les-Beaune, and Château de Bussy-Rabutin.
Abbeys of note include Abbaye de Fontenay, and Abbaye Notre-Dame de Cîteaux.
Picturesque towns of note include Châteauneuf, and Flavigny-sur-Ozerain.
Vineyards of note include Clos de Vougeot, La Cave de l’Ange Gardien, and Patriarche Pere & Fils.
Doubs. Besançon film locations include Citadelle de Besançon, Porte Noire, Cathédrale Saint-Jean de Besançon, Synagogue de Besançon, and Musée des Beaux-Arts et d’Archéologie de Besançon.
Châteaus include Château de Joux, and Château de Montbéliard.
Lods is a picturesque town.
Saline Royale is located in Arc-et-Senans.
Musée de l’Aventure Peugeot is located in Sochaux.
Haute-Saône. Film locations include Château de Saint-Loup-sur-Thouet, Château d’Oricourt, Notre-Dame du Haut, and the picturesque riverside town of Pesmes.
Jura. Picturesque villages include Baume-les-Messieurs, Château-Chalon, Dole, and Poligny.
Nièvre. Nevers film locations include Palais ducal de Nevers, Cathédrale Saint-Cyr-et-Sainte-Julitte de Nevers, Église Saint-Étienne, Pont de la Loire, and Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours.
La Charité-sur-Loire is a picturesque villages.
Château de Bazoches is located in Nièvre.
Saône-et-Loire. Churches of note include Cathédrale Saint-Lazare d’Autun, Cathédrale Saint-Vincent de Chalon-sur-Saône, and Abbaye de Cluny.
Châteaus of note include Château de Cormatin, Château de La Clayette, Château de Digoine, and Chateau de Berzé.
Territoire de Belfort. Belfort is known for Citadel de Belfort, Cathédrale Saint-Christophe de Belfort, and Synagogue de Belfort.
Yonne. Film locations include Cathédrale Saint-Étienne d’Auxerre, Cathédrale Saint-Etienne de Sens, Abbaye Sainte-Marie-Madeleine de Vézelay, Château d’Ancy-le-Franc, and Château de Tanlay.
Picturesque towns include Vézelay, and Noyers.
Burgundy-Franche-Comté regional foods of note include dijon mustard, epoisses cheese, escargots bourguignonne, oeufs en meurette, croûte aux morilles, coq au vin, beef bourguignon, gougères, and poires au vin. Burgundy wines include Pinot Noir, Gamay, and Chardonnay. Crème de cassis is a liqueur from the region.
Nouvelle Aquitaine
This southwestern region includes the departments of Charente, Charente-Maritime, Corrèze, Creuse, Deux-Sèvres, Dordogne, Gironde, Haute-Vienne, Landes, Lot-et-Garonne, Pyrénées-Atlantiques, and Vienne.
Charente. Angoulême film locations include Cathédrale Saint-Pierre d’Angoulême, Église Saint-André, Hôtel de Ville, Angoulême Théâtre, Musée d’Angoulême, and Musée de la Bande Dessinée. The French Dispatch (2020) filmed in Angoulême.
Châteaus of note include Château de La Rochefoucauld, and Château de la Mercerie.
Aubeterre-sur-Dronne is a picturesque town.
Charente-Maritime. La Rochelle film locations include Grosse Horloge, Musée Maritime de La Rochelle, Muséum d’histoire naturelle de La Rochelle, Musée Le Bunker de La Rochelle, and the deep-water port of La Pallice. Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) filmed the WWII submarine base of La Pallice.
Sea Forts of note include Fort Boyard, Fort Énet, and Fort Louvois.
Corderie Royale is a museum complex.
Churches of note include Église Notre-Dame de Royan, Cathédrale Saint-Pierre de Saintes, and Basilique Saint Eutrope de Saintes.
Château de Jonzac is located in Charente-Maritime.
Picturesque towns include Ars-en-Ré, La Flotte-en-Ré, Mornac-sur-Seudre, and Talmont-sur-Gironde.
Lighthouses of note include Phare des Baleines, Phare de Chassiron, and Phare de la Coubre.
Corrèze. Picturesque towns in include Argentat, Collonges-la-Rouge, Curemonte, Saint-Robert, Ségur-le-Château, Treignac, and Turenne.
Tours de Merle are overgrown castle ruins.
Musée du Président Jacques Chirac is located in Corrèze.
Creuse. Aubusson is a pretty riverside town.
Abbaye Saint Barthélémy is located in Creuse.
Deux-Sèvres. Niort film locations include Les Halles de Niort, Donjon de Niort, and Musée Bernard d’Agesci.
Châteaus of note include Château de Coudray-Salbart, Château d’Oiron, and Château du Theil.
Abbeys of note include Abbaye Saint Jouin De Marnes, and Abbaye Royale de Celles-sur-Belle.
Coulon is a picturesque town.
Dordogne. Beautiful towns of note include Sarlat-la-Canéda, Beynac-et-Cazanac, La Roque-Gageac, Domme, Castelnaud-la-Chapelle, Monpazier, Saint-Léon-sur-Vézère, Saint-Amand-de-Coly, Saint-Jean-de-Côle, Belvès, Rocamadour, Brantôme, Périgueux, and Bergerac.
Châteaus of note include Château de Beynac, Château de Castelnaud, Château de Marqueyssac, Château des Milandes, Château de Hautefort, Château de Commarque, Château de Biron, Château de Puyguilhem, Château de Jumilhac, Château de Losse, Château de Bridoire, Château de Puymartin, and Château de Fénelon.
Lascaux International Center of Parietal Art is a contemporary structure.
Gironde. Bordeaux film locations include Place de la Bourse, Palais Rohan, Grand Théâtre de Bordeaux, Porte Cailhau, Cathédrale-Primatiale Saint-André de Bordeaux, Église Sainte-Croix, Basilique Saint-Michel, Grande Synagogue de Bordeaux, Université de Bordeaux, KEDGE Business School, MECA Bordeaux, Cité du Vin, Nouveau Stade de Bordeaux designed by Herzog & de Meuron, Stade Chaban-Delmas, Pont de Pierre, Pont d’Aquitaine, Gare de Bordeaux-Saint-Jean, and Aéroport de Bordeaux-Mérignac.
Bordeaux wineries of note include Château Pape Clément, Château Pichon Longueville Baron, Château Margaux, Château Smith Haut Lafitte, Château La Dominique, Château De Sales, Château Maucaillou, and Château d’Agassac.
Cubzac Les Ponts was designed by Gustave Eiffel.
Dune du Pilat is the highest sand dune in Europe.
Haute-Vienne. Film locations include Centre de la mémoire d’Oradour, Musée National Adrien Dubouché, Château de Montbrun, Château de Rochechouart, and Cathédrale Saint-Étienne de Limoges.
Landes. Surf beaches of note include Plage Central, Plage Sud, and Moliets.
Picturesque towns include Mont-de-Marsan, and Labastide-d’Armagnac.
Museums include Musée de l’ALAT et de l’hélicoptère, Musée de l’Hydraviation, and L’écomusée de Marquèze.
Arènes de Dax is a bullfighting arena.
Lot-et-Garonne. Film locations include Château de Bonaguil, Château de Duras, Musée des Beaux-Arts d’Agen, and the picturesque town of Villeneuve-sur-Lot.
Pyrénées-Atlantiques. Biarritz is a seaside luxury resort in the Basque Country known for Grand Plage, Hôtel du Palais Biarritz, and Phare de Biarritz.
Châteaus of note include Château de Pau, and Château d’Abbadie.
Picturesque towns include Oloron-Sainte-Marie, Ainhoa, La Bastide-Clairence, Saint-Jean-de-Luz, and Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port.
Bayonne is known for Cathédrale Sainte-Marie de Bayonne, Arènes de Bayonne, and Musée Basque.
Villa Arnaga Musée et Maison d’Edmond Rostand is located in Cambo-les-Bains.
Pic du Midi d’Ossau s a beautiful mountain peak in the French Pyrenees.
Vienne. Poitiers film locations include Hôtel de Ville, Cathédrale Saint-Pierre de Poitiers, Église Notre-Dame la Grande, Église Saint-Hilaire-le-Grand, Église Saint-Jean de Montierneuf, Église de Sainte-Radegonde, Poitiers Palais de Justice, Musée Sainte-Croix, and Ancien Théâtre Municipal de Poitiers.
Futuroscope is a future-themed amusement park.
Château de la Mothe-Chandeniers is located in Vienne department.
Towns of note include Saint-Émilion, Sarlat-la-Canéda, and Angles-sur-l’Anglin.
Nouvelle Aquitaine regional dishes of note include chaumes cheese, ossau-iraty cheese, buche de chevre cheese, saumon de l’adour, huîtres marennes oléron, landes foie gras, dacquois, and gâteau basque. Brandy from Nouvelle Aquitaine includes Cognac, and Armagnac. The Bordeaux region is famous for its Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, and Muscadelle wines.
Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
This eastern region includes the departments of Ain, Allier, Ardèche, Cantal, Drôme, Haute-Loire, Haute-Savoie, Isère, Loire, Puy-de-Dôme, Rhône, and Savoie.
Ain. Film locations of note include Église Saint-Nicolas-de-Tolentin de Brou, Fort l’Écluse, Château de Voltaire, Viaduc de Cize–Bolozon, and the picturesque village of Pérouges.
Allier. Vichy is a spa town that was the WWII capital of the collaborationist regime of Vichy France. Film locations include Hôtel de Ville, Église Saint-Blaise, Opera de Vichy, Musée des Arts d’Afrique et d’Asie, and Hôtel des Ambassadeurs.
Moulins film locations include Basilique-Cathédrale Notre-Dame-de-l’Annonciation de Moulins, Centre National du Costume de Scene, Musée Anne-de-Beaujeu, and Maison Mantin.
Montluçon is known for Musée des Musiques Populaires, Château des Ducs de Bourbon and Château de la Louvière.
Viaduc de Rouzat was designed by Gustave Eiffel.
Châteaus of note include Château de Lapalisse, and Château de Billy.
Ardèche film locations include Pont d’Arc, La Grotte Chauvet 2 Ardèche, Grotte Saint-Marcel, Grotte de la Madeleine, and Aven d’Orgnac.
Picturesque towns include Vogüé, and Balazuc.
Cantal. Châteaus of note include Château de Pesteils, Château de Val, Château du Sailhant, Château de Réghaud, Château d’Anjony, Château d’Auzers, and Château d’Alleuze.
Picturesque towns of note include Salers, and Tournemire.
Viaduc de Garabit was designed by Gustave Eiffel.
Drôme. Valence film locations include Cathédrale Saint-Apollinaire de Valence, Musée de Valence, Musée International de la Chaussure, and Maison des Têtes.
Drôme is known for its lavender fields.
Towns of note include Grignan, La Garde-Adhémar, Mirmande, Montbrun-les-Bains, and Le Poët-Laval.
Other film locations in Drôme include Château de Grignan, Musée Européen de l’Aviation de Chasse, Tour de Crest, and Palais Idéal.
Haute-Loire. Saint-Michel d’Aiguilhe sits atop a rocky peak surrounded by the town of Aiguilhe.
Le Puy-en-Velay film locations include Statue de Notre-Dame de France, Cathédrale Notre-Dame du Puy, and Musée Crozatier.
Picturesque towns of note include Blesle, Lavaudieu, and Lavoûte-Chilhac.
Church locations include Basilique Saint-Julien de Brioude, and Abbaye de la Chaise-Dieu.
Haute-Savoie. Annecy is known for Hôtel de Ville, Basilique de la Visitation, Le Palais de I’Île, Château d’Annecy, Château de Menthon-Saint-Bernard, Hôtel Impérial Palace, and Lac d’Annecy.
Yvoire is located on Lac Léman.
Chamonix is a French Alps town popular for hiking, climbing, trail running, and winter sports. Mont Blanc is the highest peak in France. Aiguille du Midi is a mountain that can be accessed by cable car.
Cirque du Fer-à-Cheval is a beautiful river valley with limestone cliffs and waterfalls.
Ski resorts of note include Les Portes du Soleil, Megève/Saint-Gervais, Le Grand Massif, and Espace Diamant.
Isère. Grenoble film locations include Fort de La Bastille, Musée de Grenoble, Musée Dauphinois, Musée de l’Ancien Évêché, Musée Archéologique Saint-Laurent, and Téléphérique cable car. Installation Européenne de Rayonnement Synchrotron is a particle accelerator research facility.
Vienne is known for the Roman Temple d’Auguste et de Livie, Roman Théâtre Antique de Vienne, Cathédrale Saint-Maurice de Vienne, Abbaye de Saint-André-le-Bas, Musée Gallo-Romain de Saint-Romain-en-Gal, Musée Archéologique Saint-Pierre, Musée des Beaux-Arts et d’Archéologie, and Théâtre de Vienne.
Château de Vizille is a beautiful film location.
Monastère de la Grande Chartreuse is located in an isolated mountain valley.
Notre-Dame-de-la-Salette is also located in Isère.
Ski resorts of note include Alpe d’Huez, Les Deux Alpes, Chamrousse, Villard de Lans, and Autrans.
Loire. Saint-Étienne film locations include Musée d’Art et d’Industrie, Musée de la Mine, Musée d’Art Moderne, Zénith de Saint-Étienne, and Stade Geoffroy-Guichard.
Firminy is home to Le Corbusier’s Firminy Vert, which includes the Saint-Pierre Church, a stadium, a cultural center, and Unité d’Habitation.
Châteaus of note include Château de la Roche, Château de Bouthéon, and Château de Grangent.
Puy-de-Dôme. Clermont-Ferrand film locations include Basilique Notre-Dame du Port, Cathédrale Notre-Dame-de-l’Assomption de Clermont-Ferrand, L’Aventure Michelin, and Jardin Lecoq.
Châteaus of note include Château de Murol, and Château de Tournoël.
Picturesque towns of note include Montpeyroux, Saint-Floret, Saint-Saturnin, and Usson.
Rhône. Lyon film locations include Hôtel de Ville de Lyon, Hôtel-Dieu de Lyon, Palais de la Bourse, Palais de Justice Historique de Lyon, Temple du Change, Roman Théâtre Antique de Lyon, Cathédrale Saint-Jean-Baptiste de Lyon, Basilique Saint-Martin d’Ainay, Basilique Notre-Dame de Fourvière, Église Saint-Nizier, Église Saint-Paul, Église Saint-Bonaventure, Église Saint-Just, Église Saint-Polycarpe, Église Notre Dame Saint-Vincent, Église Saint-Bruno des Chartreux, Manécanterie, Opéra Nouvel, Théâtre des Célestins, Musée des Beaux-Arts de Lyon, Musée des Confluences, Palais des Congrès de Lyon, Parc de la Tête d’Or, Parc Olympique Lyonnais, Stade de Gerland, Gare de la Part-Dieu, Gare de Lyon Saint-Exupéry designed by Santiago Calatrava, and Aéroport de Lyon-Saint Exupéry.
Sainte Marie de La Tourette, located in Éveux, was designed by Le Corbusier.
Viviers is a picturesque village.
Savoie. Chambéry film locations include Cathédrale Saint-François-de-Sales de Chambéry, Château des Ducs de Savoie, Musée des beaux-arts de Chambéry, and Rotonde Ferroviaire.
Les Trois Vallées region is the world’s largest Alpine ski area, with 600 kilometers of interconnected ski runs across 10 summits. Other ski resorts of note include Tignes/Val d’Isère, Paradiski, Espace Diamant, and Les Sybelles.
Bonneval-sur-Arc is a picturesque mountain town.
Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes regional dishes of note include raclette de savoie cheese, reblochon cheese, quenelle, gratin de crozets, truffade, gratin dauphinois, cuisses de grenouilles, fondue savoyarde, vichyssoise, diots au vin blanc, tartiflette, and montélimar nougat. The Rhône Valley is known for its Syrah wines.
Occitania
This southern region includes the departments of Ariège, Aude, Aveyron, Gard, Gers, Haute-Garonne, Hautes-Pyrénées, Hérault, Lot, Lozère, Pyrénées-Orientales, Tarn, and Tarn-et-Garonne.
Ariège. Foix film locations include Château de Foix, Château de Montségur castle ruins, and Cathédrale Saint-Maurice.
Picturesque towns of note include Saint-Girons, Ax les Thermes, Camon, and Saint-Lizier.
Aude. Narbonne film locations include Cathédrale Saint-Just-et-Saint-Pasteur de Narbonne, Palais des Archevêques, and Les Halles de Narbonne.
Cité de Carcassonne is a medieval citadel know for Château Comtal, Basilique Saint Nazaire, and Cathédrale Saint-Michel de Carcassonne.
Castle ruins of note include Château de Quéribus, Château d’Aguilar, Château de Peyrepertuse, Château de Puilaurens, Château de Termes, Châteaux de Lastours, Château de Saissac, and Château de Puivert which was filmed for The Ninth Gate (1999).
Abbeys of note include Abbaye de Fontfroide, and Abbaye Sainte-Marie de Lagrasse.
Aveyron. Rodez is known for Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Rodez, and Musée Soulages.
Castle ruins of note include Sévérac-le-Château, Château de Belcastel, and Château de Najac.
Picturesque villages of note include Conques, Estaing, Espalion, Brousse-le-Château, Belcastel, Najac, Peyre, Saint-Côme-d’Olt, Sainte-Eulalie-d’Olt, Sauveterre-de-Rouergue, and La Couvertoirade.
Viaduc de Millau was designed by Norman Foster.
Gard. Nîmes film locations include Arenes de Nimes Roman Amphitheatre, Maison Carrée, Cathédrale Notre-Dame-et-Saint-Castor de Nîmes, Musée des Beaux-Arts de Nîmes, Musée de la Romanité, Carré d’Art designed by Norman Foster, and Jardins de la Fontaine.
Pont du Gard is an ancient Roman aqueduct bridge.
The Bambouseraie de Prafrance is a bamboo garden.
Anselm Kiefer’s La Ribaute studio estate is located in Barjac.
Villages of note include Uzès, La Roque-sur-Cèze, and Aiguèze.
Gers. Auch is known for Basilique Cathédrale Sainte-Marie d’Auch, and Musée des Amériques.
Picturesque towns of note include Fourcès, Larressingle, Montréal-du-Gers, and Sarrant.
Château de Lavardens is located in Gers.
Haute-Garonne. Toulouse film locations include Capitole de Toulouse, Basilica de Sant Sarnin, Cathédrale Saint-Étienne de Toulouse, Couvent des Jacobins, Théâtre du Capitole, Cité de l’Espace, Musée Aeroscopia, L’Envol des Pionniers, Musée des Augustins de Toulouse, Musée Saint-Raymond, Musée Georges Labit, Muséum de Toulouse, Les Abattoirs, Halle de la Machine, Stadium de Toulouse, Pont Neuf, Métro de Toulouse, Gare de Toulouse-Matabiau, Téléo Cablecar, and Aéroport de Toulouse–Blagnac.
Château de Laréole is located in Haute-Garonne.
Saint-Bertrand-de-Comminges is a picturesque town.
Ski resorts of note include Peyragudes, and Superbagnères.
Hautes-Pyrénées. Parc National des Pyrénées in the Pyrénées Mountains is known for its beautiful peaks, high mountain passes, mixed forests, hot springs, and waterfalls. Of note is the spectacular Cirque de Gavarnie, home of Europe’s second highest waterfall, Grande Cascade de Gavarnie.
Observatoire du Pic du Midi is an astronomical observatory.
Lourdes is a pilgrimage town known for the Sanctuaire de Notre-Dame de Lourdes, Basilica of St Pius X, and Château Fort de Lourdes.
Ski resorts of note include Grand Tourmalet resort.
Hérault. Montpellier film locations include Hôtel de Ville, Departmental Field De Pierrevives designed by Zaha Hadid, Musée Fabre, Opéra Comédie, Cathédrale Saint-Pierre de Montpellier, and Château de Flaugergues.
Béziers film locations include Cathédrale Saint-Nazaire-et-Saint-Celse, Pont Vieux, and Les 9 Écluses de Fonseranes.
Picturesque villages include Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert, Olargues, Minerve, Roquebrun, and Pézenas.
Lot. Cahors is known for Pont Valentré, and Cathédrale Saint-Étienne de Cahors.
Picturesque towns include Autoire, Capdenac, Cardaillac, Carennac, Loubressac, Rocamadour, Figeac, Faycelles, Luzech, Saint-Céré, and Saint-Cirq-Lapopie.
Châteaus of note include Château de Castelnau-Bretenoux, Château de Montal, and Château de Cénevières.
Lozère. Towns of note include La Garde-Guérin, Mende, and Sainte-Enimie.
Pyrénées-Orientales. Perpignan is known for Palais des Rois de Majorque, and Campo Santo.
Odeillo solar furnace is the world’s largest solar furnace.
Forts of note include Château Royal de Collioure, Fort de Salses, Fort Saint-Elme, and Castillet.
Abbeys of note include Abbaye Saint-Martin-du-Canigou, and Abbaye Saint-Michel de Cuxa.
Picturesque villages of note include Castelnou, Villefranche-de-Conflent, Mosset, Olette, and Eus.
Les Orgues d’Illa is a rock formation.
Tarn. Castres is known for Cathédrale Saint-Benoît de Castres, Musée Goya, Jardin de l’Évêché, and Stade Pierre-Fabre.
Albi is known for Basilique Cathédrale Sainte-Cécile d’Albi, Basilique Saint-Sernin de Toulouse, Palais de la Berbie, Musée Toulouse-Lautrec, Musée de la Mode, Musée Lapérouse, Pont Vieux, and Jardins de la Berbie.
Picturesque villages of note include Castelnau-de-Montmiral, Lautrec, Monestiés, Puycelci-Grésigne, Cordes-sur-Ciel, Gaillac, Penne, and Rabastens.
Tarn-et-Garonne. Montauban film locations include Place Nationale, Cathédrale Notre-Dame-de-l’Assomption de Montauban, Église Saint-Jacques de Montauban, Musée Ingres, Musée Victor Brun, and Pont Vieux.
Abbaye Saint-Pierre de Moissac is known for its cloisters.
Château de Bruniquel is located in Tarn-et-Garonne.
Picturesque towns include Auvillar, Bruniquel, and Lauzerte.
Occitania regional dishes of note include roquefort cheese, confit de canard, cassoulet de castelnaudary, aligot, encornets farcis, boles de picoulat, garbure, bourride, saucisse de toulouse, pouteille, salade de poulpe, and boulets de montauban. Languedoc and Roussillon are known for their Syrah, Grenache, Carignan, Cinsault, and Mourvèdre wines.
Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur
This southeastern region includes the departments of Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, Alpes-Maritimes, Bouches-du-Rhône, Hautes-Alpes, Var, and Vaucluse.
Alpes-de-Haute-Provence. The Les Mées solar farm is located in the rolling hills of La Colle des Mées plateau.
Verdon Gorge is a beautiful river canyon.
Picturesque towns of note include Entrevaux, Sisteron, and Moustiers-Sainte-Marie.
Ski resorts of note include La Foux d’Allos, and Auron.
Alpes-de-Haute-Provence is known for its lavender fields.
Alpes-Maritimes. Nice film locations include Promenade des Anglais, Basilique-Cathédrale Sainte-Marie et Sainte-Réparate de Nice, Basilique Notre-Dame de Nice, Cathédrale Orthodoxe Saint-Nicolas de Nice, Monastère de Cimiez, Palais de Justice, Cimetière du Château, Palais de la Méditerranée, Hotel Negresco, Opéra de Nice, Musée des Beaux-Arts de Nice, Musée Matisse, Musée Marc Chagall, Musée Masséna, Musée d’Art Moderne et d’Art Contemporain, Observatoire de Nice designed by Gustave Eiffel, Colline du Château, Stade de Nice, Gare du Sud, and Aéroport Nice Côte d’Azur.
Cannes film locations include La Croisette, Palais des Festivals, Hotel Barrière Le Majestic Cannes, Hôtel Martinez, Carlton Cannes, Médiathèque Noailles, Cannes Mandelieu Space Center, Gare de Cannes, Vieux Port de Cannes, Île Sainte-Marguerite, and Île Saint-Honorat.
Palais Bulles is a unique home located near Cannes.
Antibes is a resort town known for Port Vauban’s mega yachts, Plage de la Gravette, Fort Carré, and Musée Picasso.
Cagnes-sur-Mer is known for the musée Renoir, and Château-musée Grimaldi.
Other picturesque towns of note include Peillon, Saorge, Èze, Saint-Paul-de-Vence, Gourdon, Coaraze, Sainte-Agnès, Tourrettes sur Loup, Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, and Menton.
Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild is located in Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat.
Mercantour National Park is known for its alpine lakes and valleys.
Ski resorts of note include Isola 2000, and Valberg.
Bouches-du-Rhône. Marseille is France’s second largest city and its oldest. Film locations in Marseille include the Vieux-Port de Marseille, Palais Longchamp, Palais de la Bourse, Palais du Pharo, Hôtel de Ville, Palais de justice de Marseille, Basilique Notre-Dame de la Garde, Cathédrale de la Major, Abbaye Saint Victor, Château d’If, Fort Saint-Jean, Porte d’Aix, Friche la Belle de Mai, Musée des Civilisations de l’Europe et de la Méditerranée, La Vieille Charité, Musée Regards de Provence, Opéra de Marseille, Musée d’Histoire de Marseille, Musée Cantini, Musée Grobet-Labadié, Théâtre du Gymnase, Centre Pénitentiaire de Marseille, Unité d’habitation designed by Le Corbusier, the working class estates of Kallisté and Félix Pyat, Stade Vélodrome, Métro de Marseille, Gare de Marseille-Saint-Charles, and Aéroport Marseille-Provence.
Calanques National Park is a beautiful rugged coastal film location on the outskirts of Marseilles.
Aix-en-Provence is known for Hôtel de Ville, Cathédrale Saint-Sauveur d’Aix-en-Provence, Église Saint-Jean-de-Malte, Couvent des Prêcheurs which was filmed for The Nun II (2023), Pavillon Vendôme, Camp des Milles, Fondation Vasarely, Atelier Cézanne, Musée Granet, Musée du Calisson, and Hôtel de Caumont.
Arles film locations include Arènes d’Arles Roman Amphitheatre, Alyscamps Roman Necropolis, Cathédrale Saint-Trophime d’Arles, Abbaye de Montmajour, Musée de l’Arles Antique, Musée Réattu, Museon Arlaten, Fondation Vincent van Gogh, L’espace Van Gogh, and Luma Arles Tower designed by Frank Gehry.
Théâtre antique d’Orange is a Roman Amphitheatre.
Château des Alpilles is an impressive hotel.
Villages of note include L’Estaque, Les Baux-de-Provence, Martigues, and Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer.
Hautes-Alpes. Ski resorts of note include Serre Chevalier, La Forêt Blanche, SuperDévoluy, and Montgenèvre.
Picturesque towns of note include La Grave-la-Meije, and Saint-Véran.
Northern Extended Millimeter Array is a radio telescope facility.
Ecrins National Park is known for its high peaks, glaciers, alpine valleys, woodlands, and lakes.
Var. Toulon film locations include Place de la Liberté, Opéra de Toulon, Musée National de la Marine, Hôtel des Arts, Mémorial du Débarquement et de la Libération en Provence, and Stade Mayol.
Saint-Tropez is known for Vieux Port mega yachts, Citadelle de Saint-Tropez, and Musée de la Gendarmerie et du Cinéma.
Saint-Maximin-la-Sainte-Baume is a Mary Magdalene pilgrimage site.
Abbaye du Thoronet is located in Var.
Villa Noailles is a modernist house.
Circuit Paul Ricard, located in Le Castellet, hosts the French Formula One Grand Prix.
Beautiful hilltop villages include Bormes-les-Mimosas, Ramatuelle, Montauroux, Fayence, Seillans, Callian, Tourrettes, Bargème, Cotignac, Gassin, Tourtour, and Mons.
Vaucluse. Avignon is known for the Palais des Papes which was the home of the Avignon Papacy, Cathédrale Notre-Dame des Doms d’Avignon, Basilique Saint-Pierre d’Avignon, Pont Saint-Bénézet, Musée Calvet, Musée Requien, Collection Lambert, Les Halles d’Avignon, and Jardin des Doms.
Château de Thézan is a well preserved sanatorium.
Abbaye Notre-Dame de Sénanque is located in Vaucluse.
Picturesque towns include Gordes, Brantes, Ansouis, Lourmarin, Ménerbes, Roussillon, Séguret, and Venasque.
Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur regional dishes of note include banon cheese, tapenade, aïol, tian, panisses, anchoïade, quiche provencale, pissaladière, salade niçoise, ratatouille, bouillabaisse, cailles aux raisins, gardiane de boeuf, daube, soupe au pistou, and tarte tropézienne. Provence is known for its Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Cinsault, and Mourvèdre wines. Dry vermouth, picon, pastis, ricard, and rinquinquin are from this part of France.
Corsica
This region includes the departments of Haute-Corse, and Corse-du-Sud.
Haute-Corse is located on the northern part of the island of Corsica.
Towns of note include Calvi, Bastia, Speloncato, Corte, Belgodère, and Sant’Antonino.
GR20 is a 180km (110mi) hiking trail that runs from Calenzana to Conca.
Corse-du-Sud is located on the southern part of the island of Corsica.
Ajaccio is known for Maison Bonaparte which is the birthplace of Napoleon Bonaparte, Musée Fesch, Port d’Ajaccio, and Aéroport d’Ajaccio-Napoléon-Bonaparte.
Other towns of note include Bonifacio, Porto-Vecchio, and Sartène.
Beaches of note include Plage de Palombaggia, and Plage de Santa Giulia.
Îles Lavezzi are a beautiful island archipelago.
Corsica regional dishes of note include brocciu cheese, charcuterie, fritelli castagnini, veau sauté aux olives, aziminu, civet de sanglier, canistrelli, and fiadone. Corsica is also known for its local honey, chestnuts, olive oil, and wine.
French Overseas Departments & Territories
French Overseas Departments and Territories include Guadeloupe, French Guiana, Martinique, Réunion, Mayotte, French Polynesia, Saint Pierre and Miquelon, Wallis and Futuna, Saint Martin, St Barts, New Caledonia, and Clipperton Island. The French Southern and Antarctic Lands include the Crozet Islands, Kerguelen Islands, Saint-Paul Island and Amsterdam Island, Adélie Land, Banc du Geyser, Bassas da India, Europa Island, Glorioso Islands, Juan de Nova Island, and Tromelin Island.
Contact us if you are looking for production support or shooting crew in any of these places.
France Film Location Permits
France has a streamlined permitting process and most locations are open to filming.
Paris street filming requires a permit from the Paris Film Office (for the City of Paris) and from the Prefecture de Police (the city’s police authority). If the crew consists of fewer than 10 people with a light amount of equipment, you will only need a permit from the Prefecture de Police. Permits generally take about a week to process. Most Paris streets and landmarks are free. Drone filming is possible.
You can control traffic on the Champs de Elysee providing you shoot early in the morning. This usually takes about 10 days to permit.
It is possible but difficult to get permission to film at the Louvre Museum (including the Louvre Pyramid designed by I. M. Pei). The decision is based on whether the brand is deemed to match the image of the museum. For instance, the Louvre may accept filming for a high end perfume but reject filming for a soft drink. The permit process usually takes at least 3 weeks and officials reserve the right to revoke permission at any stage. The location fee is also determined on a case by case basis. It can be up to 50,000 EUROS.
As far as image rights are concerned, only buildings whose architect is living or who has died less than 70 years ago are subject to image rights. Additional rules also apply, such as with the Eiffel Tower which is free to use by day but if shooting by night, royalties are due to the lighting artists.
Even if you have a small b-roll shoot, you are required to hold valid insurance.
Please contact us for location specific information.
When To Shoot?
The climate of France can be divided into three climatic zones – Oceanic, Continental and Mediterranean. Paris and Western France have an oceanic climate with warm summers and chilly winters. Central and Eastern France have a temperate continental climate. Southern France – Riviera, Provence and Roussillon have a Mediterranean climate with hot dry summers and mild winters. June to September is the high season. The Alps have snowy winters. For monthly weather statistics please see here.
France celebrates year-round with events that can be sure to involve good food, wine, and music. Of particular interest to filmmakers and photographers are the:
• Carnaval de Nice in February / March
• Cannes Film Festival in May.
• The French Open grand slam tennis tournament is held in Paris through May / June.
• Cannes Lions Advertising Festival in June.
• Bordeaux Wine Festival in June.
• Paris Air Show in June.
• The 24 Hours of Le Mans takes place in Le Mans in June.
• French Formula One Grand Prix, located in Le Castellet, in July.
• Bastille Day is July 14th.
• Nice Jazz Festival in July.
• Tour de France in July.
• Interceltique Festival in Brittany in August.
• Golden Globe Race round-the-world yacht race starts in Les Sables-d’Olonne, in September, and takes place every four years.
• Coupe Icare is a free flight festival held in Lumbin in September.
• The Vendee Globe round-the-world solo sailing race starts in Vendee in November, and takes place every four years.
• Route du Rhum transatlantic yacht race between Saint Malo, Brittany and Pointe-à-Pitre, Guadeloupe, takes in November every four years.
The course is between Saint Malo, Brittany, France and Pointe-à-Pitre, Guadeloupe.
Many French are non-relgious. Christianity is the largest religion but as a multicultural society all major religions are represented in the country.
Public holidays may affect timing, availability and costs. See here for public holiday dates in France.
Unique Local Stories
Brands are looking for local stories that match their brand narrative. Our local teams are a great lead for sourcing those unique stories and characters.
If you are looking for stories for your next shoot, send us your brief and we will pitch you ideas.
If you have a unique story you would like to pitch to a brand anywhere in the world, pitch us your idea. We have well-established processes to ensure that your ideas are properly seen and protected.
Costs & Tax Incentives
Costs. France is a relatively expensive place to shoot. This is due mainly to the high costs of crew. France trades in the Euro. See here for the current VAT rate. Any locations requiring travel outside of Paris or Marseille are an additional cost to filming. That said, our locally based fixers and service producers will negotiate deals and provide the appropriate level of production support to match every budget.
Tax Incentives. At present there are no tax incentives for foreign commercials filming in France. Tax incentives exist for TV dramas / series, animations and feature films. The Tax Rebate for International Production (TRIP), for films and high-end TV series is 30% or 40% of the film eligible expenditures incurred in France. There is also a 10% VFX-related Tax Rebate bonus. Visit Film France for more information.
Film Crew & Talent
Crews. France has a very good pool of directors, directors of photography and stills photographers. France has a great depth of experienced, English speaking key and supporting crew. Crews are non-union for feature films and commercials. For stunt crews check out France Stunt.
Contact us if you are looking for a Paris, Marseilles, or Cannes based director, DP, photographer, videographer (cameraman / camera operator), camera assistant (focus puller), sound operator, grip, gaffer, stylist, hair and makeup, PA / runner, production driver, or any other film crew in France.
Talent is union for feature films although the unions are not as strong as they once were. Talent is non-union for commercials and buyouts are negotiable. The buyout amount depends on the brand – buyouts are often less for smaller brands and more for larger brands.
French is the official language.
France has a very good and extensive pool of multicultural and multilingual talent. Most French are Caucasian, with the country also having large African and Asian communities. Model agencies of note include Rebecca Model and Elite Models. Actors agencies of note include L’Agence de Comediens, Coccinelle, Success Models and Boutchou. Wanted Models offer interesting and usual looks. For laws governing working with children and infants see CNC.
Fringes. Production must pay 62% social security on crew wages. Talent social security contribution is 48% but agencies include this in the fee. Contact us for more information.
Premiums. Standard shoot day is 8 hours but it can usually be negotiated to a 10 hour day. The maximum allowed shoot day by law is 12 hours. If you go into a night shoot, weekend or public holiday our producer negotiates and packages a deal that is fair to all involved.
France Film Equipment
Equipment. Both Arri and Panavision camera, grip and lighting equipment available as well as a host of specialty suppliers you might expect to find in any developed production centre including Motion Control, Wescam, all the cranes, all the heads, all the toys for car commercials, heli-mounts, underwater filming, etc. For productions looking to bring in film equipment France is an ATA carnet country.
Communications. Communication is key. Our agility and global experience allows us to customise the right communications systems for every shoot.
Web posted casting, scouting, and videoconferencing.
For clients that are unable to attend set we offer a virtual video village solution. This dedicated and secure high-resolution video streaming platform allows clients from one or multiple timezones to view setups without compromise and to participate in real-time with the team on set. Separate systems can be set up for the discrete conversations that are required to make a job run right. Working remotely with our local teams reduces your content production costs, turnaround times, carbon footprint, and risks associated with unpredictable global events.
Art Department, Studios, Backlots, & Post Production
Art department and set construction. Art department is very strong. To give you an example films such as City of Lost Children (1995), and Amelie (2001) were shot in Paris. Set construction is of the highest standard but it is very expensive. French companies themselves often head to Eastern Europe to achieve projects heavy on set construction.
Studios and Backlots. France has high a range of large and small quality film studios.
Post Production. Very high standard of post production facilities in Paris. Of note are BUF, Mac Guff, and Micros Image.
Visas & Work Permits
France is a member of the Schengen Area. There are no specific work permits required for visiting crews. Crews travelling on US passports can enter and film visa-free for stays of up to 90 days.
Transport & Accommodation
Transportation Infrastructure. Highly developed transportation infrastructure. Many international and budget airlines service flights to and from French cities. The train system is extensive and often a faster alternative to flying. Paris is a very busy, congested city with limited parking near the main points of interest.
Accommodation. Contact us for rates at film friendly hotels in Paris, Marseilles and Cannes. For longer stays we can also organize serviced apartments. Hotels of note include:
Final Notes
Safety. France is a safe and reliable place to film. See here for up to date travel advice.
Down Time. Joie de vivre.
Projects. For an example of TV commercials, stills campaigns, online content, corporate videos, virtual reality 360 content, feature films, TV series and documentaries shot in France, please see below:
Hire France Production Support & Shooting Crew
If you are looking for a film or photographic production service company, line producer or fixer for your shoot in France, please contact us.
If you are looking for a shooting crew for your shoot in France, such as a director, DoP, photographer, videographer (cameraman / camera operator), camera assistant (focus puller), sound operator, grip, gaffer, stylist, hair and makeup, PA / runner, production driver, please contact us.
We are able to provide you with answers, references and bids quickly.
