5 absolutely fabulous film locations to see in Paris

Happy Friday tout le monde! Hope your week has been as beautiful as mine here in Ohio. Friday is my favorite day of the week. Even now, almost 13 weeks into my furlough, when the days are supposed to all blend together. It is full of promise, the whole weekend spread out in front of you, full of possibilities. Of course it’s also Pizza Friday!! This Friday, I hope you will enjoy my picks of 5 absolutely fabulous film locations to see in Paris.

Quai de la Tournelle

I’ll start with a location I wrote about in my Paris Pizza Friday post because it is just that fabulous. In The Bourne Identity this is the first place they go to when they arrive in Paris. Just a beautiful view. Oui, Notre Dame is under construction now, but it has to be one of the best views in Paris. On our last trip, I planned on maybe taking a bottle of wine down to the Seine and watching the sunset. Next time for sure.

Eiffel Tower – Jules Verne

What about the view from the Eiffel Tower? From the Jules Verne restaurant? The Eiffel Tower is a given, but a view from the La Tour? C’est magnifique. The final scene in Rush Hour 3 has that view and more, from the Jules Verne on the 3rd floor and ending in the fountains at the Trocadero. I could watch this movie over and over again. Not only because it’s in Paris, but it is hilarious. My wonderful, gorgeous husband proposed to me on the second floor of La Tour Eiffel and I must say the view was spectacular from there as well.

 Pont Bir-Hakeim

The Bir-Hakeim bridge is featured in the movie Inception, and I’m sure it’s in other movies as well. I have to admit, this is one location I’ve always wanted to see, but have not made it. I would love to walk across this bridge and admire the perfect views of the Eiffel Tower. The bridge has two levels, one for traffic and pedestrians, the other for the metro. Line 6 of the metro crosses Bir-Hakeim and I’ve always wanted to take line 6 specifically to enjoy this view.

Place Dauphine

One of many beautiful locations in Midnight in Paris, this hidden square is truly magical. It is on the tip of Île de la Cité, just look for the Pont Neuf bridge and the statue of Henri IV to point the way. My husband and I found ourselves here on our first trip to Paris. We had had breakfast at La Rose de France there. Sitting outside, with the sun shining, it was a perfect, beautiful Parisian morning. We watched a small group practice Tai Chi in the square while we ate. It was a moment in time I’ll never forget.

Palais Royal

Built in 1692, it was originally named Palais Cardinal. Hidden in plain sight, it is located in the 1^st arrondissement. Enter through the Place Colette, near the art nouveau Palais Royal metro station. Stroll through a contemporary art installation of black and white columns, Les Deux Plateaux. Then relax and enjoy the peaceful gardens, a city inside the city. Don’t miss Cafe Kitsune, pick up a matcha latte or espresso and a fox cookie and enjoy it there looking out at the gardens. On my list for next time is Gabrielle Geppert for vintage fashion located under the arcades and the Herboristerie du Palais Royal, located just outside on rue des Petits-Champs.

Obviously, the Palais Royal was one of my favorite locations. In the movie Mission Impossible Fallout, Ethan meets up with Ilsa and tries to talk her into abandoning her mission as they walk through the gardens. It really is a beautiful place. So here is an ode to the columns and the gardens with my Black and White Pesto Pizza. Paris Pizza Friday, it doesn’t get much better than that! À bientôt and bon weekend!

Print Recipe

Black and White Pesto Pizza

An ode to the black and white columns in the Palais Royale Paris. With 3 cheeses, black olives and pistachio pesto, it's simple and delicious.

Prep Time10 minutes mins

Cook Time10 minutes mins

Dough fermentation12 hours hrs

Total Time30 minutes mins

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: French, Italian

Keyword: black olives, pesto, simple, white pizza

Servings: 2 10 in. pizzas

Ingredients

• 1 recipe pizza dough sourdough or regular *see my links below
• 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
• 4 tbsp pesto *see link below for my Pistachio Pesto
• 1 cup provolone shredded
• 1 ball mozzarella torn into small pieces
• ½ cup mascarpone or ricotta
• 3 oz pitted black olives sliced in halves
• grated parmesan to top, optional

Instructions

• Prepare the pizza dough the day before you plan on making so it has time to ferment.

  Place pizza stones in oven and preheat oven to 475 F for 1 hour (if you don’t have pizza stones, use upside down sheet pans but don’t preheat them).

  While oven is preheating, take pizza dough out of refrigerator and let come to room temperature. Cut into two balls, and form each into a 10 inch round.
• One at a time, place pizza dough on floured or cornmealed pizza peel. Brush olive oil on edges and spread 2 tbsp pesto in center to within 1 inch of edge. Sprinkle on half of provolone, torn mozzarella, and spoonful's of mascarpone. Liberally sprinkle on half of olives. Slide onto pizza stone or sheet pan. Bake approx. 10 minutes or until brown and bubbling. Remove from oven, sprinkle on parmesan and repeat above with second pizza round.

Notes

My Sourdough Pizza Dough recipe.

My Original Pizza Dough recipe.

Pistachio Pesto recipe.

Happy Pizza Friday! Salut!

P.S. I can’t say the words Absolutely Fabulous without thinking of my favorite British sitcom. Edina and Patsy are outrageously hilarious, it is a absolutely indulgent show to totally get lost in. Especially don’t miss season 4 episode 3, Paris. Great shots of Paris including an awesome scene atop the Eiffel Tower.