Although Audrey Hepburn (1929-1993) never lived in Paris, thanks to the many films she starred in that were shot there, she remains forever linked to the City of Light. In her films, Paris isn’t just a backdrop, it’s practically a character of its own: the movies simply couldn’t have worked anywhere else.
Audrey Hepburn films shot in or set in Paris
The best example is Sabrina (Sabrina), in which Paris plays a central role (even though none of the film was actually shot there).
Listen to the conversation between her and Linus (Humphrey Bogart). Those words alone, spoken almost 60 years ago, will make you want to run out and book a flight to Paris.
Sabrina also marked the beginning of Audrey Hepburn’s collaboration with the legendary designer Hubert de Givenchy (Hubert de Givenchy), who was considered a rising star in the 1950s. Legend has it that when they first met, he was expecting to see Katharine Hepburn, but Audrey charmed him anyway, and that’s how a fruitful partnership and a friendship that lasted her whole life began.
Hepburn gained a brilliant designer who helped her develop a personal fashion style, while Givenchy couldn’t have asked for a more elegant model, and ever since Sabrina came out, he was flooded with clients. One of the great ironies of this partnership came in Love in the Afternoon (Love in the Afternoon), where Audrey Hepburn wears Givenchy clothes despite playing a poor student….
In Charade, Hepburn runs all over Paris until she lands in the arms of Cary Grant (Cary Grant). The director took the two of them to dinner before filming began, and Hepburn was so nervous that she accidentally spilled her wine on him. That scene later made it into the film, with the wine swapped for ice cream… For anyone who doesn’t know this wonderful film, here’s the trailer:
Funny Face (1956) also takes place all over Paris and shows two sides of the City of Light, the intellectual side of the Left Bank and the haute couture side of the Right Bank. While the film was being shot, the rain never let up, but Audrey didn’t mind. She was living out her childhood dream of dancing with Fred Astaire (Fred Astaire).
The Audrey Hepburn walking tour in Paris
Even though Audrey Hepburn never lived in Paris full time, she is closely tied to the City of Light, with which she shares her elegance and style. Along this route, we’ll trace some of the places that, since the 1950s, have remained linked to her life story and her films.
About the map: under the heading of each stop you’ll find its address, and every address is a link. Click it and the place will open right away in Google Maps.
Starting the tour: Hôtel Raphael, Audrey Hepburn’s favorite hotel
Leave the Kléber metro station and cross the street toward Hôtel Raphael (Hotel Raphael), Audrey Hepburn’s favorite hotel (she even redecorated the suite where she used to stay, to give it a homey feel).
The Arc de Triomphe
Head toward the Arc de Triomphe (which appears in Funny Face) and walk down the Champs-Élysées, just as Fred Astaire did in the film.
The puppet theater of the Champs-Élysées
avenue Gabriel, at the corner of avenue Matignon
Turn left onto avenue Matignon and you’ll find the garden where the puppet theater stands, the one that appears in Charade. The puppet theater still exists today and operates on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. Right nearby, on avenue Gabriel, you can find what’s left of the stamp market (Marché aux timbres), which also played a key role in the film.
Pont Alexandre III
Continue through the gardens past the Théâtre Marigny, then turn south onto avenue Winston Churchill toward Pont Alexandre III, the most beautiful bridge in Paris, which appears in Funny Face.
The U.S. Embassy in Paris and the Givenchy boutique
2 avenue Gabriel, and 28 rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré
Retrace your steps and walk along Allée Marcel-Proust, passing the U.S. Embassy, which appears in Charade. Turn right onto rue Boissy d’Anglas, then turn left onto rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré. At number 28 you’ll find the Givenchy boutique. Note that this isn’t the studio where Hepburn first met him, but it’s still a good place to recall the elegant style the two of them shared.
Place Vendôme
Retrace your steps and take rue de Castiglione, which leads to Place Vendôme (Vendome), the star of Love in the Afternoon. If you’d like to read a bit about the square’s unique history, check out this post.
Palais-Royal
Continue to the Louvre courtyard and head north toward the Palais-Royal (Palais Royal), where Charade ends in a breathless chase. This is also where your tour ends. I hope you enjoyed it.
Looking for more walking itineraries? Click here.
Want to read more about Audrey Hepburn?
I highly recommend Ariela Goichman Garber’s excellent article, Audrey Hepburn and Givenchy (the friendship that gave rise to a legacy of style).
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