Real Life Disney: France

If you’re a fan of The Aristocats then you’ll recall the red wine scene at Café de La Paix, featuring a scampering Duchess and her kittens convincing a local man to wrap-up his drinking for the day. The charming and historical cafe is worth a visit, as both the menu and the views are the crème de la crème!

Hunchback of Notre Dame–both the Disney film and its namesake, the novel by Victor Hugo–is based nearly entirely in the Cathedral de Notre-Dame de Paris. Fans of Disney’s film are familiar with not only the bell-ringer, Quasimodo, but of the comedic relief that are the cathedral’s notable gargoyles. This is particularly poignant of Disney, considering how the original book advocated for the preservation of historical architechture as an element of France’s cultural heritage. While Hugo’s story of romance, adventure, greed, and grief are all myth, he got one thing right: the Cathedral de Notre-Dame de Paris is a place of power and meaning and is deserving of continued preservation. Hundreds–nay, thousands–of Parisian hands raised the structure from the dead two times over the course of its 861 year life. The original structure alone took 182 years to complete! The Cathedral in the 4th arrondissement’s Isle-de-la-Cite is so favorite a landmark by locals and visitors alike that the owner of the neighboring restaurant La Tour D’Argent actually paid for its night lighting bills in the 1960s. Recently reopened to the public in November 2024, visitors must reserve timed tickets two days in advance. It is inadvisable to show up hoping to enter without a reservation!

Quite contrary to what most would expect of Disney, the catacombs of Paris are host to The Court of Miracles in Disney’s The Hunchback of Notre Dame. In the movie, the Court of Miracles is accessed via a door in a cemetery, which gels with the idea of existing within the Parisian catacombs. This network of underground tunnels hold the real-life remains of millions of people. During the 18th century Paris became overcrowded and needed to relocate the remains of those who had since passed to make room for those who were still earthside. The solution was to relocate these remains to the newly constructed subterranean tombs. The catacombs are also where you would find the archaeological Roman ruins of old Paris, which is seemingly where the Court of Miracles is implied to exist in the Disney movie, as it seems fairly devoid of skulls, femurs, etc. Author of the original Hunchback of Notre Dame novel, Victor Hugo, was actually writing about the aboveground slums of Paris when he wrote about them. They existed during a time when the majority of Paris’ people relied on begging to survive. Those crossstreets have since been transformed due to large-scale policing efforts in the 1700s. You can visit the catacombs today for a small fee via the official website, but be sure to check the schedule for hours, closures, and be aware that strikes may affect your ability to enter. Prebooking your timed tickets is highly recommended, as no tickets are sold on-site.

Ratatouille fans will recognize the same drive, invention, and creativity in Colette’s character as they do in her real-life inspiration, 6-time Michelin starred chef Hélène Darroze. Darroze was filmed and recorded by Pixar animators in early stages of animating the film, and her cheese course inspired Remy’s cheese and strawberry scene. Darroze went on to be named the best female chef by World’s 50 Best Restaurants in 2015.

Inspired by the interior of the purported “oldest restaurant in France”, Ratatouille director Brad Bird sketched his initial drawings of the 3D animated family flick at the Michelin starred Tour D’Argent… likely over their immaculately presented pressed duck and a glass of red. The restaurant recently underwent an interior remodel, so although it’s not identical, the provenance of the location is undeniable. You can find a small drawing of a rat accompanied by Bird’s signature on the restaurant’s wall of fame on the 6th floor. And of course–it almost goes without saying–if available, we recommend trying the ratatouille.

Seen in Ratatouille, this bridge is where Linguini tries to convince the rat, Remy, to work with him after fishing him out of a jar that rolled into the Seine. Stand beneath the bridge to view the exact spot of their first interaction on the stairs… but please, keep away from the edge!