Some unsuspected places in France seem to have been directly inspired by Harry Potter. Immerse yourself in the world of the saga by visiting France from one end to the other? It’s possible. From Brittany(where the Château Rocher Portail has been converted into a life-size Hogwarts) to the Pyrénées-Orientales, here’s a tour of some of the places in France that could have been used as filming locations by Warner Bros.
Albi: one of the top “Harry Potter” locations
Albi, nicknamed the “red city” because of the ochre bricks of its fortified cathedral and historic center, nestles in the heart of the Tarn region of France. The architectural ensemble of the Episcopal city of Albi is part of UNESCO’s World Heritage List: the Sainte-Cécile cathedral, the Palais de la Berbie, the Church of Saint-Salvi and its cloister (where Harry Potter could well have discovered the Mirror of the Riséd in first year – actually filmed in Lacock Abbey in the UK). But the resemblance between Albi and a Harry Potter location doesn’t end there: the village is often the scene of events inspired by the saga, from its La Formule Magique store to giant escape games where young wizards are tasked with finding a mandrake or other fantastic creatures in order to save their school from a curse…
Beaune and its Magicobus
Beaune is a fortified city in the heart of the Burgundy wine region. The town is full of cobbled streets reminiscent of “Hogwartsesque” architecture and, surrounded by the vineyards of the Côte d’Or, is famous for its annual wine auction at the Hospices de Beaune. Recognizable by its glazed tile roof (colored tiles with geometric patterns), this former 15th-century hospital has now become the Hôtel-Dieu museum, and exhibits masterpieces such as Rogier van der Weyden’s Last Judgment. In addition to its architectural similarity, the Harry Potter bus, the Magic Shop, sometimes stops off in Beaune.
Dijon, a remarkable heritage site(Harry Potter ment)
Dijon is a fine example of medieval architecture. The proliferation of its large religious buildings has given it the nickname of “city of a hundred steeples“. The Romanesque church of Saint-Philibert and the two Gothic icons (Notre-Dame and Sainte-Bénigne Cathedral) are among the most beautiful sacred sites in the Burgundian city, which can be visited like an open-air museum. Recognized as an outstanding heritage site, Dijon’s boundaries follow the line of the ancient medieval ramparts, and the city is home to more than 120 private mansions protected as historic monuments. Dijon, the “Harry Potter” city par excellence? It’s not hard to imagine some of the saga’s iconic scenes filmed in Dijon.
Montauban and its Jardin des Plantes converted into a Forbidden Forest
The Jardin des Plantes in Montauban, “the pinkest of pink towns” in the Tarn-et-Garonne department of Occitanie, is home to an immersive experience inspired by the saga. With “Harry Potter: The Forbidden Forest Experience“, visitors are invited to relive iconic scenes from the saga. They can meet a hippogriff or a niffler, cast spellbinding patronus or come face-to-face with Harry and Ron’s flying car, all in total immersion in the saga.
Vannes, its crossroads and the Hiboutique
Vannes, a fortified town in the Brittany region (Morbihan), is characterized by narrow cobbled streets and medieval gates that seem to conceal an infinite number of Harry Potter-inspired scenarios. The Saint-Pierre cathedral combines Romanesque and Gothic styles (familiar from the saga’s settings), while the Place des Lices is lined with colorful half-timbered houses. In the heart of the old town, it’s as if you’re back on the chemin de traverse, and there’s even a building that resembles Gringotts. In fact, since 2021, Vannes has been home to L’Hiboutique, the very first boutique dedicated to the world of the famous wizard.
Villefranche-de-Conflent and its yellow train
Villefranche-de-Conflentboasts an exceptional heritage dating from the Middle Ages to the present day. Vauban ‘s architectural work strongly influenced the town’s style, enabling it to adapt its defenses to its geographical identity. Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Vauban’s city contains twelve fortified sites, each bearing witness to a feature of his military thinking. The ramparts that encircle the city, Fort Liberia and the casemated cave “Cova Bastera” all recall the aesthetics of the saga, but it is above all its yellow train that makes it the ideal candidate for a Harry Potter film location. Serving the highest station in France, winter and summer alike, the Yellow Train winds its way up the side of the Catalan Pyrenees, climbing to an altitude of almost 1,600m. When it’s snowing, the resemblance to the Hogwarts Express is uncanny.