Midnight in Paris + Travel

Woody Allen’s newest film delves into the psyche of an American screenwriter whom like so many before him, have fallen in love with Paris. Except in the case of Owen Wilson’s character, Gil, it is specifically the Paris of the 1920s which intrigues him. When a midnight stroll leads him into the Paris of his dreams, Gil finds the inspiration he has been searching for.

Woody Allen takes his story through some of the more well-known Parisian sites but also highlights those museums and cafes often missed by the casual traveller. Here’s some of the hightlights (note, there is a spoiler in the last entry, beware!).

Musée Rodin – Madam President, Carla Bruni-Sarkosy, stars as the tour guide at this museum, showing Gil, his fiance played by Rachel McAdams and their married friends, played by Michael Sheen and Nina Arianda, the sculpture filled gardens at the artist’s former workshop.

Musée Rodin
79 Rue de Varenne, 75007 Paris, France – 01 44 18 61 10

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Palace of Versailles – The two couples take a day trip to the traditional home of the French kings, strolling though the manicured gardens. Check out our complete guide to Versailles.

Palace of Versailles
Place d’Armes – 78000 Versailles, France

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Musée de l’Orangerie – One of the excursions the two couples take is to this museum, whose curved room was designed by Monet to house his great Water lilies series, which Georges Clemenceau convinced him to paint.

Musée de l’Orangerie
Paris 8e Arrondissement, Place de la Concorde, 75008 Paris, France – +33 1 44 77 80 07

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Monet’s Garden in Giverny – Midnight in Paris opens as Gil and his fiance explore the gardens that Monet designed at his home in Giverny, close to Paris (which Gil points out as he attempts to convince his fiance to move there). The gardens were the subject of many of Monet’s works, including his series at l’Orangerie.

Monet’s Garden
Rue Claude Monet, 27620 Giverny, France – +33 2 32 51 28 21

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Moulin Rouge – In the final act of the film, Gil and his 1920s amore travel back to the era in which she loves the most, Paris in the 1890s. While here, they seek out the Moulin Rouge to see the famous ‘Can-Can’ dancers and stumble upon meet painters Degas, Toulouse-Lautrec and Gaugin- all of whom frequented the cabaret in Pigalle. You can visit the Moulin Rouge of today but this the movie scene was filmed in the studio.

Moulin Rouge
82 Boulevard de Clichy, 75018 Paris, France – +33 1 53 09 82 82

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