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8 James Bond locations to see in France
James Bond and France
Not content to adore the Dom Pérignon, James Bond loves other aspects of France, such as its sumptuous landscapes. Browse this top 8 across France.
1. Altiport de Peyresourde – Balestas (65)
The opening scene, in which James Bond (Pierce Brosnan) blows up a drug deal and takes off in a fighter jet, was filmed at the Altiport de Peyresourde-Balestas in the Hautes-Pyrénées. After the film, the base was so popular that it was renamed Altiport 007. Classy.
Read more2. Casino de Monte-Carlo (98)
James Bond (Pierce Brosnan) races Xenia Zirgavna Onatopp (Famke Janssen) along roads in the Alpes-Maritimes, before heading to the Monte Carlo casino on the Place du Casino in Monaco. Designed in 1879 by Charles Garnier, architect of the opera house of the same name in Paris, the site had previously housed a casino since 1863. The particularity is that since 1987, Monegasques have been banned from playing there. The sovereign Charles III enacted this law because he feared, on the one hand, fraud between dealers and members of the same family, and on the other hand, a squandering of the resources of his subjects.
Read more3. Beach of Cap Eden Roc (06)
James Bond (Sean Connery) interrogates Marie (Denise Perrier) on a beach. This is the area of Eden Roc at Cap d’Antibes, a terrace beach specially fitted out for the Eden-Roc hotel. With a budget of $7 million, the film generated $116 million at the international box office.
Read more4. The Mont-Blanc (74)
Mont-Blanc is regularly used. In The World is Not Enough and On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, the climax of the Alps is filmed during the skiing scenes that James Bond, respectively for these two films, Pierce Brosnan and George Lazenby, is particularly fond of.
5. Castle of Anet (28)
In Thunderball, James Bond (Sean Connery) attends the funeral of Colonel Jacques Bouvard. He decides to follow his widow to the castle of Anet, in Eure-et-Loir. Widow who turns out to be the late colonel. After having murdered him, the secret agent escapes from the castle with a jetpack and flees with his Aston Martin. For the anecdote, the actor playing the role of Colonel Bouvard is Bob Simmons, Sean Connery’s stunt double. Built in 1548 for Diane de Poitiers, the current castle of Anet is however not the first. Dismantled in 1378, the new castle was completed in 1548 for Diane de Poitiers, favourite of King Henry II, who died in 1566. A chapel was erected in his honour by his daughter, Louise de Brézé.
Read more6. Castle of Vaux-le-Vicomte (77)
James Bond (Roger Moore) travels to Drax’s residence to investigate the mysterious disappearance of the space shuttle Moonraker. The sumptuous residence turns out to be in reality the castle of Vaux-le-Vicomte. Moonraker generated $210.3 million at the world box office.
Read more7. Chantilly Castle (60)
The stables of the great industrialist Max Zorin (Christopher Walken) are located in Chantilly. James Bond (Roger Moore) and Sir Godfrey Tibbett (Patrick Macnee) go undercover in A View to a Kill. Built between 1358 and 1882, the castle has never stopped evolving. From fortress to residence for the nobility, the places have been draped in their most beautiful splendours. The Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud Series II seen in the film is registered 354HYK. In reality its real plate was CUB1 since it was the car of the producer Albert R. Broccoli, Cubby to his friends. Patrick Macnee, who was at the wheel of the vehicle, remembers how the producer kept an eye on his prized car, worried especially about the castle’s equestrian routes.
Read more8. Fort carré – Antibes (06)
So, yeah, it’s not a real James Bond. But Never Say Never Again has to be in that top again. Remake of the opus Thunderball and located outside the saga, the feature film features Sean Connery, who said at the time did not want “ever again” to play the role of the secret agent. The original title, Never Say Never Again, refers to this old rejection since, literally, the title means “Never say never again”. On the filming location side, 007 goes to Largo’s residence in the south of France, which happens to be Fort Carré d’Antibes. Built from the early 1550s, the fortress, rising on a rock 26 m above the sea, allowed surveillance of the border with the Duchy of Savoy. A military site now useless but particularly nice to visit since 1998.
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TOKYO map of 100 cult places [French Edition]
Tokyo as you have never seen it before. Except through the legendary heroes and heroines of pop culture! Get off the beaten track and discover Hayao Miyazaki’s city through your favorite movies, series, music, comics, novels and video games!
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By Damien Duarte
Passionné par la culture pop depuis son enfance, ses références vont de Donald Duck à Batman en passant par Marty McFly. Fantripper dans l'âme, voyager sur les traces de Ghostbusters, James Bond ou des héros de romans comme Cotton Malone fait partie d'un séjour idéal et réussi !