Before I saw the movie, I wondered how Woody Allen chose his 'Midnight in Paris' locations. Then I finally watched it, and everything was clear (no surprise it won the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay). The set is not only the background of a story, but also a character in its own right. Allen’s plan was to introduce us a different Paris to that which usually is visited by the tourists. Here there are a few of our favorite 'Midnight in Paris' locations.

One of the most important is the Church of Saint-Étienne-du-Mont, where all the magic of the movie starts. When Gil (Owen Wilson) needs to walks alone for a breath of fresh air, he sits on the steps of the church and gets an invite from a Peugeot Landaulet, which will bring him back to the 20s, considered by him as the “Golden Age”.

In the movie we can see just little of the church, but this famous building, located in the 5th arrondissement, has lots of things to show you: it contains the shrine of Sainte-Geneviève, patron saint of Paris, the tombs of Blaise Pascal, Jean Racine and Jean-Paul Marat and Paris’ only surviving rood screen separating the chancel from the nave.

Saint-Étienne-du-Mont

Another location, as beautiful as it is important, is Versailles. It first appears when Gil and Inez (Gil’s fiancé) go out with their friends Carol and Paul. In the movie we can see the Gardens and the Palace of Versailles, but in two different moments. The Gardens are used as background during Paul and Gil’s conversation about the 20s while the Palace is used later on in the movie, when the unlucky detective gets lost in the past during Louis XIV’s era. If you fancy your own adventure in Versailles, why not check out our Palace and Gardens Tour, with access to the musical gardens and fountain show.

Then, we have the Musée Rodin, where Paul argues with the guide about the Rodin's colorful personal life. We reckon that this is one of the most relaxing spots in Paris - hence the reason it appears so often on our blog. The highlight of any visit here is the garden full of sculptures, most famously 'The Thinker', which is featured in the movie, and the 18th-century rooms at the second floor of the Hotel Biron, which was Auguste Rodin’s own home from the 1911 till 1917.

Square Jean XXIII, behind Notre Dame

When Gil reads Adriana’s journal, he’s sit in Square Jean-XXIII, whose name is in honor of pope John XXIII. It is located in the 4th arrondissement, behind Notre Dame Cathedral. In this square you can find the gothic-styled Fountain of the Virgin, sculpted by Merlieux, and a variety of trees, like lime trees, elms and also cherry trees from Japan, which create an enjoyable place where you can rest. As it happens, we run a Notre Dame Tour, which includes Skip the Line Access to the tower, home to the most beautiful views in all of Paris.

At last, we have Pont Alexander III, a really important place, especially at the end of the movie. Built at the end of 19th century, it takes its name from Tsar Alexander III. This bridge has also been a location of other famous movies, like 1997 'Anastasia', who in the real life was Alexander's granddaughter; 1952 'Moulin Rouge'; 1985 Bond movie 'A View to Kill' and; more recently, part of Adele’s video 'Someone like you'.