The place known for movies is definitely Hollywood, no doubt about that. However, many great directors have also made the whole set travel to Europe for some scenes. And there are also European films which made it onto the big screens of the world cinemas.
From thrilling spy adventures over love stories, to historical stories, movies filmed in Europa have it all. Here is some inspiration for the movie lovers, showing how Europe goes Hollywood:
Prague played his role in several Blockbusters. The most iconic scene filmed in the Czech capital is from The Mission: Impossible. The movie featured Prague’s Charles Bridge in an unforgettable scene. Meanwhile other classics like Les Misérables or Oliver Twist have showcased the city’s charm as well.
But Prague is apperently a good city for the most famous spy: James Bond! The opening scene of Casino Royale was filmed on Platnerska Street, and nearly half the movie was shot in and around Prague.
Berlin has been a hotspot for different major cinema productions. The historical movie Valkyrie, in which Tom Cruise plays Count von Staufenberg who was one of the key figures in the plot to assassinate Hitler was filmed almost exclusively in Berlin. With intention: the filmmaker Bryan Singer wanted to create as much authenticity as possible by using original locations like Stauffenberg’s villa on Tristanstraße in Zehlendorf and transforming the finance ministry building in Berlin-Mitte back into the Reich Air Ministry.
Berlin also served as the setting for the fifth season of Homeland, showing current historical topics and the city’s modern, cosmopolitan appeal.
Vienna’s imperial grandeur makes it a natural setting for dramas of all kinds. The beloved Sissi films, showing the life of Empress Elisabeth of Austria, highlight many iconic locations of Vienna. For example, the wedding scene was filmed in St. Michael’s Church, and it is shown as if the wedding took place in St. Stephen’s Cathedral, even though Sissi and Franz Joseph were actually married in St. Augustine’s Church.
Not only capitals are the stars in Movies, there are many small towns which also had a time to shine:
The cute little city of Salzburg became world-famous thanks to The sound of music. Directed by Robert Wise and released in 1965, the movie was based on the Broadway musical of the same name. But the movie is not set in the small Austrian town for reasons. The famous composer Mozart was actually born there and spent some of his life in Salzburg.
In Captain America: Civil War (2016), the Leipzig Airport became the central stage for one of the most memorable scenes in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The Avengers’ intense scene was filmed here, with heavy CGI augmenting the action-packed sequences. Despite the explosions and chaos on screen, the airport remains recognizable.
This list could go on endlessly, as Europe goes Hollywood more often than one might think. Movie enthusiasts might especially miss Italy, which truly deserves its own list. For now, however, these cities are perfect additions to any movie lovers European bucket list.
