How to experience Paris as Audrey Hepburn would …

Audrey Hepburn movies in Paris:

Sabrina - Charade - How to Steal a Million - Paris When it Sizzles - Funny Face

This post focuses on the movie ‘Funny Face’. This is one of my favourite Audrey Hepburn movies and it features all of the famous landmarks and locations that you have to visit on your trip to Paris.

Overview of the Audrey Hepburn movie ‘Funny Face’

Fred Astaire and Audrey Hepburn dazzle in the musical romance Funny Face. From the bustling streets of Paris to the glamorous world of high fashion, Funny Face showcases stunning visual spectacles that transport audiences into a dreamlike wonderland. Find out how to experience Paris as Audrey Hepburn would below.

The iconic movie Funny Face focuses on the story of a world renowned fashion magazine. Audrey Hepburn’s character, intellectually gifted but also innocently dull in style, is seen as not being model material and having a ‘funny face’, but with the desire to present their magazine with a new concept, the photographer, played by Fred Astaire, sees potential in her as she is distinctly different from the rest of the models that do not understand the emotions and expressions needed to present a unique, exceptional image.

‘Funny Face’ movie filming locations

The Arc de Triomphe

With Napoleon’s victory at Austerlitz, in 1806 he commissioned the Arc de Triomphe which was built at double the size of the original model and is the largest triumphal arc in the world.

Movie scene

The Arc de Triomphe is shown in the first scene of the song ‘bonjour Paris’. The Arc de Triomphe is a famous landmark that sits at the end of the famous street, the Champs-Élysées which is also mentioned in the song. It is situated in the middle of a roundabout but is accessible to the public through underground passages. The design of this landmark has detailed sculptures incorporated into the structure which is the biggest arch in the world and there is access to the roof top to overlook the beautiful views of the city of Paris.

“This location is used within my favourite scene in the movie within the photoshoot. Audrey runs infront of the Arc de Triomphe holding a bunch of balloons.” - Rachel Evans

Get your tickets at getyourguide.com. The best time of the year to visit this landmark to see the sunset within the arch is between the 10th May and the 1st August. The sun can also be seen rising towards the east, under the arc between the 7th February and the 4th November.

Place de la Concorde

Place de la Concorde is a plaza with historic features.

This spot is historically known for being a location for public executions during the French Revolution. There are two beautiful detailed water fountains and an Egyptian obelisk stone column statue called the Luxor Obelisk, to commemorate this spot. There are prestigious hotels surrounding the plaza.

Movie scene

Place de la Concorde is briefly shown in the musical number ‘Bonjour Paris’ in the Audrey Hepburn movie ‘Funny Face’.

Notre Dame

The city of Paris was full of Medieval Architecture and between 1854 – 1870, due to historical events the city was destroyed and redesigned by Baron George-Egène Haussmann, to improve the aesthetic of the once peasant filled city. Napoleon who was in power at this time commissioned this job to create a more welcoming and all rounded more beautiful city.

During the Bloody Crusades in France, Gothic architecture originated. There are many fascinating medieval Gothic cathedrals within the city of Paris which were built within the period of c. 1150 – 1500. Notrè Dame and Sainte Chapelle are two of the renowned cathedrals within Paris. These places of worship were designed to be a statement within their grand design with the structure forming arches with a point crown which enabled the utilisation of large stain glass windows.

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Notre Dame is briefly shown in the musical number ‘Bonjour Paris’ in the Audrey Hepburn movie ‘Funny Face’.

Château de pa Riene Blanche

A beautiful picturesque chateau is used within the photoshoot in the movie Funny Face, to which Audrey Hepburn models in a wedding dress.

This chateaux is not open to tourists but can be hired out for weddings. Whereas the grounds which the chateaux appears to be surrounded and which Audrey and Frank Sinatra sing and dance around, are in fact a public park and not part of the chateaux itself.

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The Château is featured in the final scenes in the movie ‘Funny Face’. Audrey Hepburn is styling a beautiful wedding dress …

Luxurious Fashion streets of Paris

If you are looking for a luxurious shopping experience, Rue de la Paix, (mentioned in the song ‘Bonjour Paris’ in the ‘Funny Face’ movie) is a famous shopping street known for luxury boutiques.

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Rue De la Paix is mentioned in the song ‘Bonjour Paris’ in the ‘Funny Face’ movie and the venue featured for the fashion show is on Avenue Montaigne are both luxurious, exclusive shopping streets with designer brands. Book a luxury shopping day out at getyourguide.com.

The Louvre

The Louvre is the most visited museum in the world with galleries full of historic and monumental art pieces which date back to the Middle Ages. This museum is most famously known for holding the Mona Lisa.

“From my experience upon visiting the Louvre, I admired the contrast of the modern architectural features of the glass prism entrance against the original historic building built in 1546. I was inspired by the beautiful decadent architecture which shone within the interior, complimenting the renowned paintings on display. With the Mona Lisa being one of the most famous paintings in the world, there was a large crowd surrounding the piece. “ - Rachel Evans

Get your guided tour of the Louvre at getyourguide.com.

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Within ‘Funny Face’ the Louvre is shown from many angles which shows the sheer size of this gallery.

‘Victory of Samothrace’ is a sculpture placed at the top of the ‘stairway to victory’ in The Louvre. It is a model of a woman’s figure with angel wings. Funny Face shows this location within the photoshoot that Audrey Hepburn’s character models in. Audrey appears from behind the sculpture wearing a stunning red dress, in which she parades elegantly down the stairway.

The Eiffel Tower

The Eiffel Tower is the most iconic and well known landmark within Paris.

To experience the Eiffel tower through a tour and complimenting seine cruise visit getyourguide.com.

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Evans Inspires Top Tip

If you’re booking this Audrey Hepburn inspired trip for someone special make sure you treat them with class and sophistication so they can fully feel as though they are Audrey Hepburn in Paris. But most of all make sure you enjoy every aspect of your trip even if it doesn’t go the way you planned, in the movie Funny Face Audrey’s character didn’t always get to do what she wanted in Paris but she found joy in new experiences and challenges.