A Complete Guide to Amélie filming locations in Paris!

Last Updated on 12th March 2024 by Sophie Nadeau

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When you set a whimsical film in the heart of Montmartre and pair it with a sense of mystery and a modern day fairytale, then the results are well worth a watch. Also known as ‘Le fabuleux destin d’Amélie Poulain’ in French, here are all of the very best Amélie filming locations in Paris you’ll want to see for yourself!

For those unfamiliar with the 18th arrondissement of Paris (i.e. the district of Montmartre and where most of the Amelie film is set), it’s worth noting that this is one area of Paris you should place at the top of your French capital bucket list.

After all, the 18th was once a small community in its own right that has since been absorbed into the fabric of Paris proper. As a result, visit at any given moment and you can expect to find cobbled lanes and a vintage ambience. Check here for the very best things to do in Montmartre!

Best Amelie filming locations

Enghien-Les-Bains

For a taste of Deauville (the Normandy resort town) on the fringes of Paris, you simply need to visit Enghien-les-Bains, à spa settlement which has been populated since at least the Middle Ages and perhaps even earlier.

Enghien-les-Bains is Amelie’s hometown. The protagonist grew up there and her father still lives there so she goes back to visit him during the progress of the film. This gorgeous little town is a little bit off the beaten path and wandering around the large lake is one of my favourite day trips from Paris.

Abbesses Metro station

Located in Montmartre, the line 12 metro station of Abbesses is located 36 metres underground, making it the deepest metro station in Paris. In order to reach the ground level and vice versa, travellers can make use of the two lifts or two sets of spiral staircases that connect the two levels. In the movie Amelie, Ameilie meets Nino for the first time at Abbesses metro station.

Gare du Nord

Though arguably not the most picturesque of places in Paris, Gare du Nord may well be your first point of call to Paris if you’re arriving in the city from Germany or Eastern France (or, indeed, if you happen to be travelling to the city from abroad via the Eurostar).

In the movie Amelie, Amelie takes the train some weekends to visit her father in Enghien-Les-Bains, which is the little-known town where she grew up. Today, the station is the same spot from which you’ll depart if you wish to take a suburban train to visit Enghien!

Notre Dame Cathedral

One place which features in Amelie but is not actually located in Montmartre, and is instead to be found in Ile de la Cité is that of Notre Dame Cathedral. Boasting some eight centuries of history, in Amelie, each year the heroine visits the ecclesiastical building, together with her mother, to burn a candle asking for a little brother.

One day, when visiting the church, a tourist jumps off the roof and kills Amelie’s mother instantly. Please note that though Notre Dame can still be seen from afar, due to a terrible fire in April 2019, the cathedral interior is closed to the public until further notice.

Café des Deux Moulins

Literally ‘the two windmills café’, this is where Amélie works in the movie. And yes, it is a real café where you can go to eat, drink, and perhaps even order a coffee like a local… As you might imagine, the historic coffee shop takes its name from two nearby windmills, that of the Moulin Rouge and the Moulin de la Galette and can be found at No. 15, Rue Lepic.

Rue Lepic

Located in the 18e arrondissement, this ancient road of is full of history and well worth a wander along, if only to check out the quirky architecture. In the film, Amélie walks down Rue Lepic every day on her way to work. It’s also where she shops and you can see stores like the greengrocers from the film. In real life, it’s along Rue Lepic where you’ll find the lost windmills of Paris.

Gare de l’Est

Gare de l’Est is one of the main stations in Paris, and chances are, if you’re visiting the city by train this may well be the station you arrive at. In the film, Gare de l’Est is where Amélie heads to use the photo booth. Although the interior has been changed since the filming of Amélie, you can still wander through the station and put your imagination to work!

Canal Saint-Martin

Other than Montmartre, Amélie has a distinct love for Canal Saint-Martin and the 10e arrondissement of Paris. She heads here to hang out and skim stones.

In real life, it’s a lovely body of water to wander along and also happens to be a great place to enjoy a Parisian picnic. Come summertime, chilling out along Canal Saint-Martin is a great alternative to sitting alongside the Seine.

Sacré-Coeur

The Sacré-Coeur is not only one of the best Amélie filming locations in Paris but one of those must-see iconic city attractions in its own right. In the movie, Amélie sets up a meeting between herself and the man she loves, Nino, at the base of the Sacré-Coeur.

She then arranges a treasure hunt where he has to climb the steps and up to the basilica itself. To reach the Sacré-Coeur from the base of the steps, you can either climb the steps for yourself, or you can take the Funiculaire de Montmartre.

One ride to the top is the price of a single metro ticket. Before heading to the top, make sure to check out the beautiful vintage carousel that lies at the base of the steps!

Studio 28

In the Amelie movie, a little film inception goes on by the simple fact that Amelie, too, occasionally visits the cinema on a Friday night. If you’re looking for one of the best hidden gems in Montmartre, then you may well want to check out the cinema Studio 28 for yourself.

Search for the Sinking house of Montmartre

Though not one of the actual Amélie filming locations in Paris, if you want to get a sense of the fantastical that the film so produces, then why not try your hand at making some of your own magic? And embark on a treasure hunt of your own along the way…

Near the top of the Sacré-Coeur stairs, if you tilt your camera the right way, you can make it look as if the house to the right is sinking into the grassy bank. Here’s where you can find the sinking house of Montmartre.

Foire du Trône funfair 

One of the more magical moments from the Amélie movie occurs when Amelie goes to the Foire du Trône funfair to see the man she inevitably ends up falling in love with (since he works there). In reality, the Foire du Trône funfair is the largest travelling funfair in Europe and occurs annually in the Bois de Vincennes.

Maison Collignon grocery store

One of the more iconic places from the Amélie film is that of the Maison Collignon fruit and vegetable store, which can be found steps away from Amélie’s house. In the movie, the heroine heads here to shop and learn all about the best of neighbourhood gossip.

In reality, this grocery shop is situated on the corner of rue Androuet and was once called ‘Chez Ali,’ but was renamed ‘Maison Collignon’ after the film came out and became popular. The grocery shop is located close to one of the best vintage photo booths in Paris.

Metro station Lamarck-Caulaincourt on line 12

Though not particularly a memorable Amelie filming location in its own right, the Metro Lamarck-Caulaincourt is close to Amélie’s home in Montmartre, and so is thus where many of the more memorable moments from the movie were filmed. In real life, a wander close to the metro station presents the opportunity to enjoy one of the prettiest vistas in Paris.

Wander around the rest of Montmartre

If you want to get a real sense of whimsical Montmartre and get a feel for the rest of the Amélie filming locations in Paris, then wander around the rest of the arrondissement, giving yourself plenty of time to soak in the ambience of it all.

Head to places like Place du Tertre (a hotspot for artists) and Place Dalida (home to one of the prettiest cobbled streets in the city). And if you want a guide for exploring Montmartre, here’s a self-guided tour of Montmartre by foot.

If you’re looking to discover more of Montmartre with a local guide, then you might consider booking a walking tour like this one.

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