A tour of Paris following the film Amelie – by Hadar Gabay and Zvi Hazanov

Jean-Pierre Genet's iconic film, released in 2001, follows Amelie Poulain, a young and unique Parisian living in Montmartre. The entire film is a hymn to Paris, and especially to the high-end and mysterious neighborhood of Montmartre. As a budding Francophile, this film was one of the first to expose me to the truly mysterious and interesting Paris. Many interesting anecdotes are hidden in the film, and sometimes only become apparent to the viewer on the second or third viewing.

An interesting and well-known detail is that Jean-Pierre Genet would arrive on set with his crew, and they would scrub away street graffiti and visual hazards – so important was it to him that the set be “sterile” and dreamy. The film was shot in advance in striking shades of green and red.

The film was originally titled “Amélie des Abbesses” (after a metro station in Montmartre), but it was changed to the grandiose title “Le Fabuleux Destin d'Amélie Poulain” (The Fabulous Fate of Amélie Poulain), after the producers feared that no one outside of Paris would understand the reference to the metro station. Amélie lives in the Montmartre neighborhood, a neighborhood full of ups, downs, climbs, and views. The streets are full of clubs, and it is not recommended to wander around the area at night for the purpose of this tour.

The cafe where Amelie worked

We will begin our tour at the café where Amelie works, Café des Deux Moulins, located at 15 Rue Lepic. The café’s name suggests its proximity toMoulin Rouge", which is just around the corner.

This café is the beating heart of Amelie's world. It's where she works as a waitress, people-watches, and hatches her small and big plans to change the lives of those around her.

The café, which exists in real life and retains its authentic design, has become a pilgrimage site for fans of the film. You can sit at the bar, just like in the movie, order a crème brûlée and break the top layer of caramel with a spoon – one of Amélie’s little pleasures. Don’t be surprised to find posters and memorabilia from the film; the owners have embraced the cinematic heritage. The place is usually bustling, but if you arrive early in the morning, you might be able to sense the quiet magic of Montmartre, just as Amélie experienced it.

Abbesses Metro Station

We will continue to the Abbesses metro station. The station was built in 1912, and is particularly interesting because its design style is one of the first in Paris and is called a 'kiosk' or 'édicule'. The designer is Hector Guimard. However, the station was built by a different company (which built lines 12 and 13) that did not employ the designer Guimard at all. The explanation for this is that the kiosk at the entrance to this station was originally at the 'Hotel de Ville' (Hôtel de Ville) and transferred to Avès in 1974. This is, therefore, an anachronistic station.

Here Amelie first meets Nino Quincampoix, as he chases after the mysterious man who loses his Photomonton photo album. Amelie finds the album, and it becomes the key to her search for Nino and for love. And of course, how can we forget the scene with the blind man?

Interestingly, the scenes inside the station were not actually filmed at Abbesses, but at a ghost station called Porte des Lilas, which served as a set. However, the magnificent Art Nouveau entrance to Abbesses station, designed by Hector Guimard, is completely real and appears in the film. It is one of the most beautiful entrances to the Paris Metro, and adds a touch of classic Parisian charm to the scene.

Collignon's Fruit and Vegetable Store

We will walk to 54 Rue des Trois Frères, where, according to the film, the evil Monsieur Collignon's greengrocer is located.

In reality, the shop was named “Chez Ali” after the original owner, but following the success of the film, the “Maison Collignon” sign remained and became part of the landscape.

This is where Amelie decides to take revenge on the arrogant greengrocer, Monsieur Collignon, for his humiliating treatment of his poor assistant, Lucien. She breaks into his apartment and performs a series of small but amusing pranks. The shop itself is a typical, vibrant greengrocer's, and you'll immediately recognize its green and red facade. Amelie loved to put her hand in the sacks of grain and legumes in the shop, another of those small, sensual pleasures that make her character so special.

Louise Michel Square and the Carousel

We will continue on this street and will reach Square Louise Michel via Place Saint-Pierre.

At the foot of the Sacré-Cœur Basilica, there is the beautiful green Place Louise Michel, with its charming carousel. This is where Amelie prepares the famous “treasure hunt” game for Nino to return his photo album.

She guides him using arrows on the sidewalk and binoculars, eventually leading him to the binoculars on the observation deck, where she gives him a message: “Only a fool looks at the finger” (“Quand le doigt montre le ciel, l'imbécile regarde le doigt”). This scene, with the colorful carousel in the background and the white basilica towering above, is one of the most romantic and iconic in the film.

Sacra-Cer Church

The shining white basilica, overlooking Paris The whole thing serves as a backdrop for several important moments. From here, as mentioned, Amelie guides Nino. The panoramic view from the stairs and balcony of the Sacré-Cœur is breathtaking, and in the film it serves as a dramatic backdrop for the love game that develops between Amelie and Nino. This view, combining the gray rooftops of Paris with the wide sky, emphasizes the sense of destiny and the endless possibilities that Amelie feels she can provide.

And if all this wasn't enough for you, here are a few more places in Paris that also appeared in the movie "Amelie":

Canal Saint-Martin

A charming and romantic canal, which in recent years has become a favorite hangout for many Parisians, thanks to its pastoral appearance and the restaurants and cafes in the area. Here, Amelie loves to bounce stones on the water, and in a scene from her childhood, she returns her pet fish back to nature.

Notre Dame Church

A brief but very significant scene at the beginning of the film takes place outside Notre Dame Cathedral. Here, Amelie's mother, Amandine, is tragically and strangely killed when a tourist from Quebec jumps from the tower and lands on her. It is this traumatic event that causes Amelie's father to become even more withdrawn and distant, and shapes Amelie's lonely childhood.

Although the cathedral itself suffered a severe fire, the area around it still carries the history and special atmosphere of Paris, and this scene, despite being comical-tragic, ties Amelie's personal story to one of the city's most central and historic sites.

If you would like to learn a little more about the history of this church, you are welcome to enter. here.

Rue Mouffetard

This colorful, ancient market street in the Latin Quarter is where one of the film's key moments takes place. Amelie, after finding an old treasure box hidden in the wall of her apartment, manages to track down its owner, Mr. Bretodeau. She places the box in a public phone booth on Rue Moffattre and calls him to find it.

When he opens the box and finds his childhood memories, he is filled with happiness and nostalgia. In that moment, Amelie understands her calling: to make people happy. This scene, shot on a bustling street, highlights Amelie's ability to find small moments of magic and meaning amidst the hustle and bustle of everyday life.

If you would like to read a little more about the Moftar Street market, you are welcome to enter Link to this.

Gare de l'Est Train Station

The Eastern Railway Station is another important meeting place in the plot. Here Amelie and Nino continue their game of cat and mouse around the photo album. The station, with its bustle of passengers and atmosphere of movement and change, provides a perfect backdrop for Amelie's search for human connection. The scenes at the train station, especially those near the photo booths, are full of tension, humor, and anticipation.