da vinci tour paris

Take a Fascinating Da Vinci Code Walking Tour of Paris

The Da Vinci Code Walk in Paris explores actual sites discussed in Dan Brown’s gripping novel, The Da Vinci Code . It’s a unique experience that unveils some of the most exciting mysteries in history, specifically in art history.

Paris Walks runs this fascinating tour, which is based on the mystery-thriller that follows symbologist Robert Langdon and cryptologist Sophie Neveu as they investigate a murder that took place at the Louvre.

“On the tour, we unravel the keys to the many puzzles, and we see many of the sights mentioned in the book”, says Peter Caine, founder of Paris Walks and author of Walking the DaVinci Code in Paris . “[Visitors] will find out the truth behind the gnomon and the Priory of Sion, who are said to have met secretly at St Sulpice Church, and see the plaques which actually indicate the meridian which Dan Brown called the Rose Line.”

The tour begins along the Left Bank, where participants will soak up the sights of some of the oldest streets in Paris, including the majestic Saint-Sulpice Church , headquarters of the Priory of Sion and the setting for many exciting scenes in the book. Here you’ll find the mysterious gnomon, the section of a sundial that casts a shadow. In the book, Brown claims it is connected to the Paris Meridian, which he refers to as the Rose Line. However, on the tour, you’ll learn about its actual significance as an 18th-century astronomical calculator.

Then, continue along the Rose Line before stopping by the old abbey of St Germain-des-Près . “We see the spot where the grand master of the order of the Knights Templar was burnt at the stake and hear about the curse he laid on the French monarchy.”

The walk then slinks across the river to the Louvre , where you’ll receive expert insight into the hidden meaning of symbols on the building façade and will learn about the principal arguments surrounding the hunt for the holy grail. The tour then finishes at the inverted pyramid, where the story famously ends.

“In the Louvre, we see how the Egyptian figure of the goddess Isis breast feeding baby Horus developed into the representation of the Virgin and child. We look closely at the beautiful painting the Madonna of the Rocks by Leonardo da Vinci to decide which baby is Jesus and which is John the Baptist.”

As the tour ends at the Louvre, where many objects of significance in the book can be found, participants can continue exploring on their own. For a truly memorable experience, be sure to email Paris Walks to book the tour before your trip.

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Leonardo da Vinci

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24 October 2019 – 24 February 2020

• Exhibition Overview

Presentation by the exhibition curators

Exhibition catalogue, selected works, en lien avec l'exposition, boutique en ligne.

#ExpoLéonard

The Leonardo da Vinci exhibition is held under the high patronage of French President Emmanuel Macron

The year 2019 marks the 500-year anniversary of the death of Leonardo da Vinci in France, of particular importance for the Louvre, which holds the largest collection in the world of da Vinci’s paintings, as well as 22 drawings.

The museum is seizing the opportunity in this year of commemorations to gather as many of the artist’s paintings as possible around the five core works in its collections: The Virgin of the Rocks , La Belle Ferronnière , the Mona Lisa (which will remain in the gallery where it is normally displayed), the Saint John the Baptist , and the Saint Anne . The objective is to place them alongside a wide array of drawings as well as a small but significant series of paintings and sculptures from the master’s circle.

This unprecedented retrospective of da Vinci’s painting career will illustrate how he placed utmost importance on painting, and how his  investigation of the world, which he referred to as “the science of painting,” was the instrument of his art, seeking nothing less than to bring life to his paintings.

The exhibition is the culmination of more than ten years of work, notably including new scientific examinations of the Louvre’s paintings, and the conservation treatment of three of them, allowing for better understanding of da Vinci’s artistic practice and pictorial technique. Clarification of  his biography has also emerged through the exhaustive reexamination of archival documents. The exhibition will paint the portrait of a man and an artist of extraordinary freedom.

Organised by:

Vincent Delieuvin, Department of Paintings, and Louis Frank, Department of Prints and Drawings, Musée du Louvre.

Exhibition booklet

Dossier pédagogique.

Quand la peinture raconte Léonard

Épisode 1 : La Nature (La Vierge aux rochers)

Épisode 2 : le mouvement (la belle ferronnière), épisode 3 : l’inachevé (la « sainte anne »), épisode 4 : l’idéal (le saint jean baptiste), épisode 5 : le mythe (la joconde), remerciements, cycle de conférences (en replay).

• Du corps de l'homme au corps de la terre : Léonard de Vinci entre art et science (version française) Conférence par Domenico Laurenza, Trinity College, Dublin (Auditorium du Louvre, 31/10/019)
• Léonard dans la littérature à la Renaissance Conférence par Enrico Mattioda, Università degli Studi, Turin (Auditorium du Louvre, 14/11/2019)
• Léonard, l'écriture en mouvement Conférence par Carlo Vecce, Università degli Studi, Macerata (Auditorium du Louvre, 21/11/2019)
• Léonard de Vinci et ses œuvres inachevées : infinités, transformations et quantités continues Conférence par Carmen C. Bambach, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York (Auditorium du Louvre, 06/01/ 2020)

Publications

• Catalogue de l’exposition , sous la direction de Vincent Delieuvin et de Louis Frank. Coédition musée du Louvre éditions / Hazan. 480 pages, 380 illustrations environ.
• Les vies de Léonard par Vasari , par Louis Frank. Coédition musée du Louvre éditions / Hazan.
• Léonard2Vinci , par Stéphane Levallois. Coédition musée du Louvre éditions / Futuropolis. 96 pages (Bande-dessinée).
• Collection « Solo » La Joconde , par Cécile Scailliérez. Coédition musée du Louvre éditions / El Viso, 106 pages, 62 illustrations.
• Le Casting de Léonard , par Nathalie Vessié-Hodges. Coédition musée du Louvre éditions / Atelier du Poisson soluble, 56 pages, disponible également en anglais.
• Le Génie de Léonard : son œuvre, son histoire, son époque , par Patrick Jusseaux. Coédition musée du Louvre éditions Gallimard Jeunesse, 128 pages.
• Léonard de Vinci, maître de la Renaissance , par Gennaro Toscano. Coédition musée du Louvre éditions Hazan, 50 pages.

Documentaires

Léonard de vinci, la manière moderne.

Peintre de l'œuvre la plus célèbre du monde et artiste exerçant une fascination hors norme, Léonard de Vinci a pourtant laissé moins de vingt tableaux, dont certains inachevés. Aujourd'hui, les progrès scientifiques et les recherches historiques les plus récentes nous permettent de mieux comprendre l'élaboration de ses peintures, de leur conception à l'acte de peindre lui-même. À travers dessins et carnets, comparaison de tableaux et analyses, ce film nous révèle l'incomparable science de la peinture de Léonard, tout en en restituant le sens et l'émotion.

Acheter le coffret en DVD

Léonard de Vinci, le chef-d'œuvre redécouvert

La Vierge au fuseau serait-elle l'une des rares œuvres authentiques de Léonard de Vinci ? À Paris, à l'occasion de sa restauration, le tableau révèle sa couche picturale d'origine, ce qui permet de nouvelles comparaisons avec la technique et le style du grand artiste de la Renaissance...

Léonard de Vinci, la restauration du siècle

La Sainte Anne est un des plus beaux tableaux du monde, un des plus mystérieux. Mais c'était aussi un tableau malade, défiguré, voire menacé, par les « réparations », et les couches de vernis successives déposées au fil des siècles. Pour le sauver une restauration s'imposait. Cette restauration complexe et exceptionnelle a été l'occasion unique d'être au plus près du tableau tel qu'il a été peint à l'origine, et de mieux comprendre  la relation complexe que Léonard de Vinci entretenait avec un de ses plus grands chefs-d'œuvre.

Acheter le DVD

Présentation de l'exposition : Léonard de Vinci

Video 56 min

(1/4) Du corps de l'homme au corps de la terre : Léonard de Vinci entre art et science

Video 1 h 11 min

(2/4) Léonard dans la littérature italienne de la Renaissance

Video 57 min

(3/4) Léonard, l’écriture en mouvement

Video 45 min

(4/4) Léonard de Vinci et ses œuvres inachevées : infinités, transformations et quantités continues

Video 59 min

480 pages / 380 illustrations Co-publishing Hazan / Louvre éditions

Buy the catalogue  

Leonardo di ser Piero da Vinci, dit Léonard de Vinci, Draperie Saint-Morys.

Leonardo da Vinci, Portrait of a Lady from the Court of Milan, known as La Belle Ferronnière

Leonardo di ser Piero da Vinci, dit Léonard de Vinci, Étude pour la Sainte Anne : le manteau de la Vierge

Leonardo da Vinci, The Virgin and Child with Saint Anne

Leonardo di ser Piero da Vinci, dit Léonard de Vinci, Étude de Vierge à l’Enfant, dite Madone aux fruits

Léonard de Vinci, Études de personnages pour l’Adoration des Mages (verso)

Leonardo da Vinci, Saint John the Baptist

Leonardo da Vinci, Portrait of Isabella d'Este

"Mona Lisa Beyond the Glass": the Louvre's first Virtual Reality experience

As part of the landmark exhibition Leonardo da Vinci (24 October 2019 - 24 February 2020), the Louvre will present the museum’s first virtual reality (VR) experience, in partnership with HTC VIVE Arts, which will bring to life the story of the  Mona Lisa , da Vinci’s most famous masterpiece.

23 October 2019

A Night at the Louvre: a private guided tour of the landmark exhibition, only un theatres !

To prolong the 'Leonardo da Vinci" experience, The Louvre Museum and Pathé Live have partnered to release an exclusive filmed private tour of the landmark exhibition “ A Night at the Louvre: Leonardo da Vinci ”. Special screenings wil be organized from 16 September worldwide.

29 June 2020

Discover our selection around the exhibition

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Leonardo da Vinci

& the chateau du clos luce.

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Leonardo Da vinci’s final residence

• Walk in Leonardo da Vinci’s footsteps – not just an artist, a genius of the Renaissance.
• The Clos Lucé, worthy of the favors and friendship of a king.
• Military, maritime, hydraulic and aeronautic inventions: the technical and scientific research of a visionary.
• Canvasses, panels, and maps…a magical garden where culture and amusement cohabit.

Tour 1: classic tour

This enchanting visit will complement your tour of the Loire valley. Follow your guide on a tour of the residence occupied by the artist during the last three years of his life.

Daily from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. from February to October (9 a.m. to 8 p.m. in July and August) In January, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and in November and December from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Closed January 1 and December 25

Restaurant Shop

Direct, no-lines access: reservation required for groups (40 people maximum per guide)

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Cracking The Da Vinci Code (2 Hours 30 Minutes)

Paris, France

• Family Vacations

Inspired by Dan Brown’s captivating novel, the Da Vinci Code Tour will take you through some of the most beautiful monuments and areas of Paris .

It all starts at the Pantheon , a massive building and final resting place for great men and women of France including Victor Hugo and Voltaire. Let our expert certified guide show you the secrets of this church turned into a republican monument, and then lead you through Saint Germain des Pres and the Latin Quarter , two iconic Parisian neighborhoods.

The riddles and questions your family will have to solve will take you to monuments such as S aint Sulpice church, Saint Germain des Prés church and the beautiful Luxembourg Gardens .

Will you be able to crack the code? All the clues and information found along the way will be of great value... You and your children will learn as much as you will have fun!

This 2 hour exciting walking tour is the best and most captivating way to visit this central part of Paris.

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The Da Vinci Code in Paris: Follow the Trail with a Local

• A local that wants to show you his city!
• Personal expenses during the Experience
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• Ritz Paris, 15 Pl. Vendôme, 75001 Paris, France Let's meet right in front of the Ritz Hôtel!
• Not wheelchair accessible
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The Da Vinci Code: 10 key works at the Louvre

The Da Vinci Code is a novel that enjoyed international success in the early 2000s. Presented as a work of fiction, the story told by Dan Brown goes beyond the imagination. The secrets revealed during the investigation by the main characters Robert Langdon and Sophie Neveu make readers feel that they could be actual events. Part of the Church even talks of defamation.

The worldwide success of a book selling more than 80 million copies went on to attract Hollywood, and the novel was adapted for the big screen in 2006 by director Ron Howard, whose previous films included Apollo 13 (1995) and The Grinch (2000).

See the Louvre as if you were in the movie

Are you a fan of the Robert Langdon tetralogy? Did you love the movie? Your visit to the Louvre is an opportunity to walk in the footsteps of the investigators and discover the secrets of the Priory of Sion. A Louvre tour is the best way to see the works that appear in the Da Vinci Code from a different point of view.

The museum has selected 10 works and locations you should visit to see for yourselves and decide whether the theories in Dan Brown’s book are plausible.

The Arago medallion

On the staircase that is home to the Winged Victory of Samothrace, the Arago medallion led to Robert Langdon following an imaginary line. This is the Paris meridian known as the “Rose Line” in the book. The Arago medallion is a contemporary work by Jean Dibbets , installed in the Louvre Museum in 1995. There are 135 of them in Paris.

Where to find it : Denon wing, room 3, accessible from the Daru staircase. It is the third room to the right of the Winged Victory of Samothrace.

The Virgin on the Rocks

This work by Leonardo da Vinci is thought to hold a hidden secret. The mystery lies in the position of the Virgin's hand . What she is actually holding is the reason why Sophie Neveu’s grandmother was murdered.

Where to find it : Denon wing, 2nd floor, room 5

The Virgin and Child with St Anne

According to the psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud, the painting by Leonardo da Vinci hides the form of a vulture . This theory is used in the Da Vinci Code to support the theories in the novel.

Noli Me Tangere ("Don't touch me")

According to the discoveries made in the novel, the events related in the Bible that led to Mary Magdalene being seen as a reformed prostitute are supposed to be the work of a conspiracy. Leonardo da Vinci’s Noli Me Tangere is thought to illustrate this secret episode in history .

Where to find it : Denon wing, 2nd floor, room 8

Death of the Virgin

Although this painting is the setting for one of the bestseller’s interpretations, there is indeed a secret hidden in it. The draped curtain, which is the same color as the Virgin’s robe, has been interpreted as Caravaggio’s intention to depict the mother of Jesus' ascension to her son .

The Mona Lisa

Of course, the most famous painting in the world could not escape this crime thriller set in the Louvre Museum. The mysteries surrounding this painting are explained in a completely logical way during the investigation: Mona Lisa 's smile, the position of her hands, the landscape... what are these elements hiding?

Where to find it : Denon wing, 2nd floor, room 6

The Wedding at Cana

The longer you look at this painting by Veronese , the more characters you discover. The people are positioned in a way that may seem strange to the audience. In his novel, Dan Brown puts forward an interpretation that serves the adventures of his heroes.

Hera of Samos

According to Dan Brown, all myths have a sacred feminine . The absence of a goddess figure in the Bible and the Christian tradition is, for the characters in the Da Vinci Code, the key to a dark secret.

Where to find it : Denon wing, mezzanine, room 1

The Inverted Pyramid

According to Robert Langdon’s discoveries, the Inverted Pyramid is the site of a tomb. This deduction is pure fantasy.

Where to find it : Carrousel du Louvre

The Salon Carré

Visible in the film, the Salon Carré (Square Salon) is one of the most emblematic rooms in the Louvre Museum. The killer was held there.

Where to find it : Denon wing, 2nd floor, room 3

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The Leonardo da Vinci exhibition at the Louvre might’ve closed last month, but that doesn’t mean your journey in his footsteps needs to end. A visit to his former home, Château du Clos Lucé where he spent the last three years of his life at the invitation of the art-addicted King, is available for exploration at any time. An easy day trip from Paris, this picturesque corner of the Loire Valley is less than two hours from Gare Montparnasse.

Traditional timber and vine covered houses in Amboise. Photo: Chloe Govan

Skip the scenario of potentially cursing your GPS and hurling it out of the window; the best way to arrive is almost certainly by train. Not only is it the quickest way to reach the chateau, but the leisurely walk from Amboise station reveals stunning panoramas of the river too. The town boasts troglodyte cave houses once typical of this region, timber buildings crafted from centuries-old wood, plus characterful modern residences with brightly colored boxes of flowers decorating their sills. Peek inside while strolling along the road to the chateau for small visual pleasures such as vintage lace curtains embroidered with birds. So much is missed when zooming past in a car.

The view over the town from Chateau d’Amboise. Photo: Chloe Govan

The Château du Clos Lucé is just a few minutes by foot from the Chateau d’Amboise, the royal residence where Leonardo da Vinci was buried, so if starting early, a day trip can easily combine both while allowing you to be back in Paris by dinnertime. There was once a clandestine underground passageway used by Leonardo da Vinci himself, which allowed discreet and direct access between the two, by special arrangement with the King. Those without Leonardo da Vinci’s celebrity status, however, were obliged to take the public route above ground, as visitors do today.

Château du Clos Lucé and gardens. Photo: Chloe Govan

Here, shrouded in the Clos Lucé, framed by the leafy trees of the valley, lie the secrets of Leonardo da Vinci’s final years. He had made the trip over the Alps from his native Italy by mule, clutching a satchel containing three of his most famous paintings – St John the Baptist , The Virgin and the Child and of course the Mona Lisa . His arduous journey was at the personal invitation of a very insistent King Francis I, and he would soon become “premier painter, engineer and architect” to him. Leonardo da Vinci would work diligently on the legendary Chateau de Chambord, injecting it with the influence of the Italian Renaissance, and at one time — admittedly more frivolously — even designed a mechanical lion which would release a flurry of flowers at the King’s feet.

All of this ingenuity and invention took place at his base in the Clos Lucé, where he received a generous pension for his efforts. He and the King were inseparable, with the royal fondly referring to the artist as his “father” in spite of the fact that they hailed from rival nations and that Leonardo da Vinci’s past had been spent plotting military inventions to destroy the French. Seemingly oblivious to the fact that he had collaborated with his enemies on war machines with menacing names such as the “Assault Chariot” and the “Triple Fire Machine Gun”, (inspired by Stalin and his Soviet weaponry), King Francis was besotted – and he made no attempt to disguise it. Sounding at first like a platonic version of Romeo and Juliet , the passionate friendship between artist and King nevertheless did not end in tragedy.

Leonardo da Vinci-designed bridge in the chateau gardens. Photo courtesy of château du Clos Lucé

Perhaps it was his talents and skill for entertaining that had caused the King to overlook his controversial past. Either way, there is plenty of evidence within the Château du Clos Lucé of exactly why Leonardo da Vinci was seen as special. The interior boasts reconstructions of his workshops, where he spent countless hours indulging in creative pursuits, while the basement contains 3D animations and models of his inventions. Expect extra quirks such as taxidermy bats, skulls and a flying machine suspended from the ceiling, honoring Leonardo da Vinci’s long-time obsession with birds, and how to replicate their flight. Then there are the insights into his bloodthirsty imagination, courtesy of the prototype for a “Military Armored Tank” surrounded on all sides by guns, which he predicted would “take the place of the elephants”. He added that fighters could “hold bellows in them to spread terror among the enemy’s horses”.

Miniature of Leonardo da Vinci’s armored tank at château du Clos Lucé. Photo: Chloe Govan

On a more personal note, it’s also possible to see his kitchen and on-site chapel, containing frescoes by his disciples. They have been painstakingly repainted with the same pigments used in the Renaissance era to aid authenticity. Then there is his bedchamber, with its distinctive red velvety furnishings. Amusingly, there is sometimes a resident cat lurking here who swans in and out as he pleases and regards Leonardo da Vinci’s original bed not as a place of history but as little more than a convenient place for a nap!

Leonardo da Vinci’s bedroom at Château du Clos Lucé. Photo: Chloe Govan

A word of warning: Top up your camera or phone fully before you arrive, lest you find yourself in the position I was in, crouching on the floor next to Leonardo’s bed and plugging my charger into the ancient, slightly dilapidated socket beside it. That said, the fact there is even a functional plug socket in a room last inhabited by Leonardo da Vinci just over 500 years ago is to be commended in itself.

For those who have time, a walk through the chateau’s expansive park at the end of the visit is unmissable. It is filled with authentically sized sculptures which bring to life some of Leonardo da Vinci’s most famous inventions. Visitors are invited to climb aboard his assault chariot, try out his multi-barreled gun – virtually, of course – and enjoy the bridges he designed. Meanwhile the gardens boast centuries-old pine trees and the seasonal so-called “Mona Lisa roses”.

Replica of Leonardo da Vinci’s workshop at the Château du Clos Lucé. Photo: Chloe Govan

A trip here offers a compelling slice of history, including plenty of insights and memorabilia that it’s impossible to view anywhere else. After the visit, travelers can then head to the Chateau d’Amboise nearby. Notably the Patisserie Bigot on rue Nationale is barely a couple of minutes walk away from it, and its outdoor seating affords a view onto the town’s visually pleasing clock tower and archway beneath.

A visit to the chateau can provide a parallel between the life of the royals and that of Leonardo da Vinci nearby. It also boasts incredible panoramas of Amboise. While in the past the summit of the ramparts offered a perfect bird’s eye view of potential invaders, in today’s relatively trouble-free times, the focus might instead be on peering down at the town’s mouth-watering chocolate shops and biscuiterie shops below! Although not exactly what the King would have had in mind at the time, this aerial-style map of tasty snack shops could certainly help hungry visitors at a high vantage point to plan where to eat afterwards.

The Mona Lisa displayed at château du Clos Lucé. Photo: Chloe Govan

Highlights of any visit include an optional tour of the secret underground passageways below the chateau – to be booked in advance – and of course, for Leonardo da Vinci devotees, a visit to his tomb in the chapel. As the artist once famously prophesized, “A well-spent day brings happy sleep, so a life well spent brings happy death”. With that in mind, we can only hope that his final resting place in Amboise gave him exactly the peace and happiness of which he spoke.

Château du Clos Lucé 2, rue du Clos Lucé 37400 Amboise Phone: +33 (0) 2 47 57 00 73

Chateau d’Amboise Montée de l’Emir Abd el Kader, 37400 Amboise Phone: +33 (0) 2 47 57 00 98

Train Tickets www.sncf.com Fastest Journey Time – 1h39 minutes, including a change in Tours

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A bus advertising the 500 year anniversary of the Renaissance In the Loire Valley next to a Mona Lisa staircase in honor of Leonardo da Vinci. Photo: Chloe Govan

Lead photo credit : Leonardo da Vinci's atelier. Photo courtesy of château du Clos Lucé

More in Chateau du Clos Lucé , Leonardo da Vinci , Loire Valley

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By chloe govan.

Chloe Govan is an award-winning writer and channel-hopping Francophile with a penchant for Parisian life. After achieving degrees in Psychology and Magazine Journalism and working as a travel editor and columnist, she developed her freelance career, during which she authored 11 books. Whether she is sleeping in a bubble under the stars in the forests around Marseille or horse-back riding with the chateaux of the Loire Valley as a backdrop, her heart can often be found somewhere in France.

Da Vinci Code Filming Locations in Paris!

By: Author Sophie Nadeau

Posted on Last updated: 28th February 2024

Categories Filming Locations , Paris

Last Updated on 28th February 2024 by Sophie Nadeau

For this post, I did some ‘research’ by rewatching the film ( ha) ! Here are a few of the Da Vinci Code filming locations in Paris you must  visit!

When the Da Vinci Code burst first onto the scene, in the form of a book, and then later a film, the Dan Brown creation caused something of an uproar. And for good reason. The book, film and even the theories behind them sparked controversy around the world, notably because they ‘ claimed ‘ that Jesus had children, and therefore, a potential bloodline. 

Saint Sulpice

Palais royal, comédie-française, louvre museum, enjoyed reading about the top da vinci filming locations in paris pin this article now, read it again later:, best da vinci filming locations in paris.

The historic church of Saint Sulpice, located not far from the Jardin du Luxembourg and pretty close to the Latin Quarter area of the city, is probably the most controversial of all the Da Vinci Code filming locations in the city of love.

After all, when the film crew asked for rights to shoot the interior of Saint Sulpice, they were actually turned down . This means that when you watch the film and Tom Hanks walks into the infamous church, he is actually walking through a Hollywood Movie set.

The high ceiling and many of the stained glass windows are merely special effects, added post filming. The reason the church rejected the Da Vinci Code being filmed here? Well, in both the book and the movie, the ‘ rose-line ‘ supposedly runs through the heart of the church and is meant to be ‘the world’s first meridian’.

Dan Brown links this mythical line to the bloodline of Christ. However, the Catholic Church vehemently rejects this claim, and there is even a special notice inside the church informing visitors to this ancient place of worship that the rose-line is mere fiction . Interestingly, there  is  a real meridian line in the church…

But this one is supposed to calculate the official date of Easter, rather than any link to possible descendants of Jesus.

Grand, imposing and once the seat of nobility – rather than royalty , Palais Royal sits opposite the Louvre. In the Da Vinci Code, Robert Langdon (played by Tom Hanks) walks through the historic palace, continuing with his search to find the end of the rose-line.

Today, Palais Royal is both the name of the building and the quiet square nestled within its walls. The pretty and tranquil park is often cited as many people’s favourite park in the city of lights. In fact, it’s the perfect place to catch up with friends, or head to one of the only spots in the city where you can purchase a Matcha Latté, Café Kistuné .

The Comédie-Française is the first, and so far only, comedy theater run by the French government. Located close to Palais Royal and the Louvre, its grand Haussmann façade makes it difficult to miss.

Plus, it has its own group of full-time employed actors. The theater is yet another stop along the infamous ‘rose-line’, or so-called ‘Paris meridian’.

In the Da Vinci Code, Robert Langdon stays at this Hotel. Hand painted walls, red velvet and mahogany everything: this hotel is the height of Parisian decadence and luxury.

Originally founded in 1898 by Cesar Ritz, the hotel has welcomed acclaimed, famous, and wealthy guests from all over the world for over a century. Today, you can book your very own stay at the iconic hotel. Check rates and availability here.

And the final stop on our quirky tour of the Da Vinci Code filming locations in Paris is the Louvre Museum . Allegedly the final resting place of Mary Magdalene, the Louvre also happens to be the largest museum in the world.

In the book and novel, it’s alleged that the pointed triangular architecture of the centrepiece of the Louvre is not just a controversial art piece. Instead, Dan Brown alleges that the triangle points to the final resting place of Mary Magdalene,  and  the triangle symbolises the male and the female.

Sophie Nadeau loves dogs, books, travel, pizza, and history. A Francophile at heart, she runs solosophie.com when she’s not chasing after the next sunset shot or consuming something sweet. She splits her time between Paris and London and travels as much as she can! Subscribe to Sophie’s YouTube Channel.

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