Movie Capitals: On Location In… Prague

Culture
Movie Capitals: On Location In… Prague
Slide Nr 1
Some come for the vibrant nightlife, others for the history spanning more than 1,000 years, and others still for the timeless beauty of the architecture. However, if you’re visiting Prague looking to spot a movie location, the capital city of the Czech Republic has that covered, too! It’s home to Barrandov Studios, which, founded in the 1930s, is one of the largest filming facilities in Europe and has played host to productions from all over the world. Luckily for travelling film fans, those movies often venture outside of the studio walls and take advantage of Prague’s many wonders. Join us as we wander around the City of a Hundred Spires to recapture the adventures of international spies, superheroes and even a musical genius.

By Victoria Luxford

0/10
Culture
Movie Capitals: On Location In… Prague.
Slide Nr 2
Václav Havel Airport Prague (Casino Royale, 2006) – Most cities in our Movie Capitals series have had an encounter with 007. As it happens, Daniel Craig’s very first scenes as James Bond were shot in Prague; the black-and-white prologue was filmed in the modern Danube House. However, we thought a more accessible hotspot to feature would be the city’s international airport. It plays Miami Airport in the film, where Bond chases the mysterious Ellipsis, with explosive results. You may not have the run of the place as Craig did, but as you land on the runway, you may recognise the areas where one of the more thrilling moments in the film took place.

1/10
Culture
Movie Capitals: On Location In… Prague.
Slide Nr 3
Charles Bridge (Mission: Impossible, 1996) – The beginning of another one of the biggest franchises in Hollywood history happened in the city, as Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) witnesses the murder of his team in a mission gone terribly wrong. The crescendo of the first act happens in the area around Charles Bridge (Karlův Most), where Cruise witnesses a car exploding and his superior, Jim Phelps (Jon Voight), falling. There are half a dozen memorable spots used in this part of the film, in which the city is bathed in dramatic light from street lamps. However, this is perhaps the easiest to access if you fancy yourself a super spy!

2/10
Culture
Movie Capitals: On Location In… Prague.
Slide Nr 4
Vinohrady Theatre (Spider-man: Far from Home, 2019) – Twenty-three years later, Peter Parker would have his own problems in Prague, as his school trip is mysteriously diverted from Paris so that Tom Holland’s superhero could do battle with various CGI baddies. One slightly more sedate scene between Peter and MJ (Zendaya) happened in the Vinohrady Theatre, posing as an opera house that their school party has visited. Fans can either take a peek inside or explore the grand exterior, both of which were featured in the film. It would not be the last time the Marvel Universe would visit the area, as we will find out later in this tour…

3/10
Culture
Movie Capitals: On Location In… Prague.
Slide Nr 5
Petschek Palace (The Bourne Identity, 2002) – From a former bank playing a hotel, to a former bank playing a fictional one. Prague stood in for Zurich in the first entry of Matt Damon’s hit action franchise, where the amnesiac hero enters the bank to find out his name and, well, identity. Prague played a big part in the production of Doug Liman’s 2002 film, and was at the centre of the European aesthetic that changed the game for the genre during the decade. The interior is closed to the public, but as it was anyway dressed up to look like a bank, checking out the exterior is perhaps the most authentic experience!

4/10
Culture
Movie Capitals: On Location In… Prague.
Slide Nr 6
St Vitus Cathedral, Prague Castle (A Knight’s Tale, 2001) – The late Heath Ledger was seen in front and inside of this remarkable Roman Catholic cathedral in A Knight’s Tale, the 2001 medieval action film that takes certain liberties with history and location. Prague’s St. Vitus Cathedral stood in for a location in Paris, where Ledger’s hero, William Thatcher, continues to woo the love of his life, Lady Jocelyn (Shannyn Sossamon). The playful scene makes the most of the opulent surroundings, the real-life seat of the Archbishop of Prague and the burial place of many kings of the past.

5/10
Culture
Movie Capitals: On Location In… Prague.
Slide Nr 7
The Estates Theatre (Amadeus, 1984) – The Oscar-winning 1980s film told the story of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (Tom Hulce) and Atonio Salieri (F. Murray Abraham), a rivalry that would make Hollywood history – even if it was not entirely accurate in terms of actual history. Prague’s Estates Theatre boasts the illustrious claim to fame of having been the venue for one of Mozart’s real-life premieres, the opera Don Giovanni in 1787. Director Miloš Forman seized the opportunity for art to imitate life, recreating performance scenes in the building where they actually happened two centuries previously. The venue still hosts productions of theatre, ballet and opera, the latter of which is still inspired by its most famous headliner.

6/10
Culture
Movie Capitals: On Location In… Prague.
Slide Nr 8
Žatec (Jojo Rabbit, 2019) – Another Oscar winner, Taika Waititi’s satirical look at Nazi Germany was filmed in the town of Žatec, around 50 miles outside of Prague. Due to the sensitive nature of the storyline, we’ll point to the entire town rather than a particular scene or location, but those who are familiar with the comedy will immediately recognise the pastel-coloured buildings and unique monuments. The town has its own World War II history, having been occupied by German forces toward the end of the conflict. However, historically it has a far more pleasant reputation as a famous beer producer.

7/10
Culture
Movie Capitals: On Location In… Prague.
Slide Nr 9
Ministry of Transport (Hellboy, 2004) – Guillermo del Toro’s first Hellboy film utilised a lot of locations in the city to achieve the dark and gloomy look of Mike Mignola’s comics. Prague’s National Monument is the lead character’s home, while the Ministry of Transport played Machen Library in one of the movie’s first big action scenes, with the building’s exterior featuring prominently as Ron Perlman’s cigar-chewing anti-hero went to work on a supernatural situation. The large building should be easy to pick out, located in the very prestigious Prague 1 area alongside Prague Castle and many government buildings.

8/10
Culture
Movie Capitals: On Location In… Prague.
Slide Nr 10
Old Town Square (xXx, 2002) – Close to Charles Bridge and famous for its seasonal markets, Old Town Square will be a picturesque spot that also boasts a connection to action movie royalty. xXx, Vin Diesel’s other big franchise after Fast & Furious, opened with a secret agent walking across Old Town Square as he followed a target into an underground rock club, only to find some unfriendly faces waiting for him. Sadly, you can’t follow that exact route (the club was a creation for the movie), but the square’s architecture and art museum should more than make up for it.

9/10
Culture
Movie Capitals: On Location In… Prague.
Slide Nr 11
Živnostenská Banka Building (Falcon and the Winter Soldier, 2021) – We take a slight thematic diversion here. Falcon and the Winter Soldier is a TV show, not a film, however it is a very big-budget adventure that is part of the continuity of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, populated by characters from the movies, so we’ll take it! The gorgeous Živnostenská Banka building plays the role of a hotel in a nightmarish flashback for Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan), in one of the signature moments in the Disney+ show. The building was the original headquarters of the Czech Republic’s largest commercial bank, and while it was sold in 2015, its memorable façade is a must visit for many tourists.

10/10
Editor's Choice
Movie Capitals: On Location In… Austin
Live music, great food, Southern hospitality... and Hollywood glamour? Austin, Texas has it all. We walk you through 10 of the city's must-visit movie filming locations

The Greatest Hollywood Comebacks Ever
We take a look at 15 impressive actors who resurrected their floundering careers, showing that a single performance can turn a film flop into a marquee name

No Comments

Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.

TV Capitals: On Location In… New York City

Looking to immerse yourself in TV history and visit real-life locations from your favourite shows? Head for the most-filmed city in the world: New York

Films For The Ages: 15 All-Time Family Classics

Whether they teach us about friendship, kindness and community, or simply offer a wild ride, we put forth our picks of the family-friendly movies that have never gotten old

Hollywood’s 10 Best Broadway Adaptations

Musical films may be having a moment right now, but these stage-to-cinema adaptations are the golden standard on the silver screen

Shades Of Fear: The 13 Movie Classics That Redefined Horror

This spooky season, look to the classics for your thrills and chills: we present our list of the best horror films ever made

11 Incredible Art Exhibitions To Catch Now

From captivating retrospectives to celebrations of spectacular creativity, these art exhibitions deserve a spot on your cultural bucket list for the coming months

15 Page-Turning Books Destined For Film

From fantasy to romance and Oscar-worthy drama, these are the bestselling books and underrated titles you should read right now – before they hit the big screen

15 Movies For Cosy Autumn Vibes

From the snuggly to the spooky and the beautifully atmospheric, these are the best films to curl up with this season

Quality Comedy: The 15 Funniest TV Shows Of All Time

If laughter is the best medicine, then these TV shows – both new and old – will cure whatever ails you

5 Minutes With… Author Azar Nafisi

Azar Nafisi, the multi-award-winning author of ‘Reading Lolita in Tehran’, has plenty to say about storytelling and imagination, as well as the dangers of today

15 Movie Sequels That Were Worth The Wait

Better late than never: these highly anticipated movie sequels kept fans waiting – sometimes for decades – before becoming classics in their own right

Page-Turning TV: The Best TV Shows Based On Books

To watch or to read? That is the question when it comes to these 15 compelling TV shows that made the leap from the page to the screen – some of which might surprise you

Threads Of Change

Vanessa Barragaõ on weaving tradition and sustainability into captivating works of textile art

Culture

Movie Capitals: On Location In… Prague

0/10

Culture