Introduction: A Modern Heist Through Iconic Landmarks
Netflix’s Lupin is a French heist series that exploded onto the global streaming platform in January 2021, proving that French television could compete with the biggest productions in the world. The series follows Assane Diop, played by the charismatic Omar Sy, as he executes an elaborate plan to take down a wealthy family that wronged his father. What makes Lupin particularly special for location enthusiasts is its stunning use of real Parisian locations—from the most iconic monuments to hidden passages and rooftops that most tourists never see.
The series is both a thriller and a love letter to Paris. Each episode opens with references to the classic French novel Arsène Lupin by Maurice Leblanc, a character Assane idolizes. As Assane executes elaborate heists, we see Paris transformed into a stage for crime, adventure, and retribution. But beneath the thriller plot lies something deeper: a celebration of Parisian architecture, culture, and the way the city’s history intersects with personal stories.
Lupin was a massive commercial success for Netflix, becoming one of the streaming platform’s most-watched series globally. The show also became a tourism phenomenon in Paris—travel authorities reported increased visitor numbers specifically because of the series, with fans wanting to visit the locations where Assane’s adventures unfold.
The Louvre: A Heist at the World’s Most Famous Museum
The Louvre appears in multiple scenes throughout Lupin, but the most dramatic are the heist sequences. In the show, Assane executes a complex theft from the world’s most famous museum, turning the Louvre itself into a character and a location of intrigue. The scenes inside the museum, with its glass pyramid entrance, grand staircases, and countless galleries, create a sense of both grandeur and claustrophobia.
The Louvre is located at Rue de Rivoli (1st arrondissement) and is easily the world’s most visited museum, with over 9 million annual visitors. Beyond the sheer scale—the museum occupies 782,910 square feet—it’s a architectural marvel. The glass pyramid entrance designed by I.M. Pei has become as iconic as the building’s classical structure.
What to expect: The Louvre is vast and crowded. You cannot possibly see everything in one visit. Most visitors prioritize the most famous works: the Mona Lisa, Venus de Milo, Winged Victory, and a few others. The Lupin scenes inside involve the galleries, so exploring the actual interior is worthwhile. However, the real appeal for Lupin fans is the exterior: the pyramid, the courtyard (Cour Napoléon), and the way the building dominates its space.
Budget: €17 for standard entry. Timed entry tickets (recommended to avoid peak crowds) cost the same but ensure access. Plan 2-4 hours for a visit.
Visiting tip: Visit early morning (opening at 9 AM) or late evening (the museum stays open until 9:45 PM on Wednesdays and Fridays). These times have fewer crowds. Focus on the galleries you actually want to see rather than trying to see everything. For Lupin fans, the Egyptian antiquities section and the paintings galleries are particularly relevant to the show’s narrative.
What’s real vs. recreated: The exterior shots of the Louvre are all genuine. Some interior scenes were filmed in the museum, but many were recreated on sets to allow for more dramatic camera movements and lighting. The essence is real, but some sequences are productions tricks.
The Musée d’Orsay: Art and History Intertwined
The Musée d’Orsay appears in Lupin as a location of both personal significance and criminal opportunity. Located at 1 Rue de la Légion d’Honneur (7th arrondissement), on the Left Bank of the Seine, the Musée d’Orsay is housed in a former train station (Gare d’Orsay) built in 1898.
The museum is famous for housing the world’s finest collection of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist art. The building itself is architecturally stunning, with a soaring metal and glass roof, grand clock faces, and a layout that feels both like a museum and a train station—a perfect blend of function and beauty.
Why Musée d’Orsay matters for Lupin: The museum represents cultural Paris, the heritage and art that defines French identity. When Lupin uses this location, it’s making a statement about French culture and history. The museum also offers multiple levels, different galleries, and various sightlines—perfect for a heist narrative.
Visiting tip: The Musée d’Orsay is less crowded than the Louvre but still very popular. Visit on a weekday morning for the best experience. Budget 2-3 hours for a full visit, though you can do a quick tour in 60-90 minutes. The rooftop café offers stunning views of Paris and is a perfect spot to rest and reflect.
Budget: €16 for standard entry.
Don’t miss: The upper level galleries with Impressionist masterworks (Monet, Renoir, Degas) are why most visitors come. However, take time to observe the building itself—the architecture is as important as the art it contains.
Étretat’s Dramatic Cliffs: Normandy’s Breathtaking Escapes
One of Lupin’s most visually stunning episodes takes place in Étretat, a small seaside village in Normandy, about 200 kilometers northwest of Paris. The dramatic white chalk cliffs that frame the beach are some of France’s most iconic natural formations and provided a magnificent backdrop for a key episode.
Étretat is famous for its three distinctive natural rock formations: Manneporte, Porte d’Aval, and Porte d’Amonte. The cliffs rise 70-90 meters above the sea and have been painted, photographed, and filmed countless times. Monet painted this location repeatedly; the cliffs appear in numerous films and television shows.
Getting there: From Paris, take a train to Le Havre (about 2 hours), then either a bus or taxi to Étretat (about 30 minutes). Alternatively, rent a car and drive the scenic route along the Normandy coast. The journey is part of the experience.
What to expect: Étretat is a small village with a charming beach town atmosphere. The dramatic cliffs are the main attraction. On a clear day, the views are stunning. On a misty or rainy day, the cliffs take on an even more dramatic, moody quality.
Visiting tip: Walk down to the beach and take time to observe the cliffs from different angles. The formations look different depending on your position and the light. Bring comfortable hiking shoes if you want to explore the trails above the cliffs. The town itself has a few restaurants and cafés—eat fresh seafood while overlooking the cliffs.
Budget: The natural formations are free to view. Accommodation and meals in the village range from budget to mid-range.
Time required: A full day is ideal. Leave Paris in the morning, spend 4-5 hours in Étretat, and return to Paris in the evening. Alternatively, stay overnight if you want a more relaxed pace.
The Château de Villers-Cotterêts: History and Intrigue
Villers-Cotterêts is a Renaissance château in the Aisne department, about 90 kilometers northeast of Paris. It appears in Lupin as a location of historical significance and personal connection. The château is steeped in French history—it’s where King Francis I signed the Ordonnance of Villers-Cotterêts in 1539, which declared French the official language of the kingdom instead of Latin.
The château is a massive structure with ornate architecture, sprawling grounds, and a complex history spanning centuries. Today, it’s being renovated as a cultural center and museum dedicated to the French language and French literature.
Getting there: From Paris, take a train to Villers-Cotterêts station (about 90 minutes), then walk or taxi to the château.
What to expect: The château is currently in renovation but parts are open to visitors. The exterior is impressive even from a distance. The grounds are peaceful and ideal for walking. The historical significance makes this location particularly meaningful for understanding the French setting of Lupin.
Visiting tip: Call ahead (03 23 96 23 96) to confirm what’s accessible during your visit, as renovation schedules vary. Even if the interior is limited, the exterior and grounds are worth experiencing.
Budget: Entry may vary depending on renovation status. Check the official website for current information.
The Paris Rooftops: A Secret City Above the Street
One of Lupin’s most distinctive visual elements is the use of Paris rooftops. Throughout the series, Assane runs across rooftops, hides on rooftops, and views the city from above. These scenes transform Paris into a more complicated, interconnected place where a skilled person can navigate the city in ways most people never imagine.
Paris’s rooftops are actually quite accessible in certain areas. The city’s Haussmann-era buildings have similar heights and sometimes connecting architecture. While the show’s rooftop sequences are obviously filmed by professional crews with safety measures, you can experience a similar perspective from legitimate vantage points:
Montparnasse Tower (33 Avenue du Maine, 15th arrondissement): A tall modern building with an observation deck (€16) offering 360-degree views of Paris and its roofscape from above.
Arc de Triomphe (Place Charles de Gaulle, 8th arrondissement): The roof/top level (€13) offers views across Paris in all directions, including many rooftops in the surrounding neighborhoods.
Sacré-Cœur Basilica dome (Place du Tertre, 18th arrondissement): The dome climb (€6) offers views of Paris including rooftops in Montmartre.
Galleria Lafayette rooftop (40 Boulevard Haussmann, 9th arrondissement): The department store’s rooftop offers free views of Paris including the surrounding roofscape, visible from the rooftop café/terrace area.
Visiting tip: Instead of trying to access actual rooftops (which is dangerous and illegal in most cases), visit the legitimate observation points that provide views of how Paris appears from above. This gives you the “rooftop perspective” that Lupin romanticizes.
The Palais Garnier Opera House: Grand and Imposing
The Palais Garnier, Paris’s famous 19th-century opera house, appears in Lupin as a symbol of grandeur and culture. The building itself is an architectural masterpiece with ornate interiors, grand staircases, and a history of elegance and prestige. Opera house scenes often involve formal Parisian society and high culture, the world that Assane must navigate and ultimately undermine.
The Palais Garnier is located at 8 Rue Scribe (9th arrondissement). It’s actively used as an opera house, so not all areas are always accessible to tourists.
Visiting options:
- Tour the building: €14 for a daytime tour when there’s no performance (usually 10 AM-4 PM, closed occasionally for performances or maintenance).
- Attend a performance: Opera and ballet performances are regularly scheduled. Prices range from €15 (upper balcony seats) to €150+ (orchestra seats). The experience of seeing a performance in this building is magical.
Visiting tip: If you attend a performance, dress nicely—the Palais Garnier is formal. If you’re on a budget or prefer not to attend a performance, the daytime tour gives you access to the stunning interiors. The ceiling painted by Marc Chagall is worth seeing in person.
What to expect: The building is ornate, impressive, and crowded with tourists. However, the architecture and history justify the crowds.
How Lupin Boosted Paris Tourism
Lupin’s release had a measurable impact on Paris tourism. Travel authorities reported increased visitor numbers, with specific mentions of fans wanting to visit locations from the show. The series demonstrated something Netflix and streaming platforms had suspected: high-quality, location-specific content can drive real-world tourism.
The show’s global success also enhanced Paris’s reputation as a modern destination, not just a historical or romantic one. Lupin showed Paris as contemporary, sophisticated, and exciting—a place where sophisticated crime and clever plotting could unfold.
A Lupin-Inspired Paris Itinerary
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Day 3:
The Deeper Message
Lupin uses Paris’s iconic locations—the symbols of French culture and history—as a backdrop for a story about injustice, revenge, and redemption. The show suggests that the real Paris is more complex than the tourist version, that there are hidden layers and stories beneath the famous monuments. Visiting these locations after watching Lupin means seeing them with new eyes, understanding them not just as tourist attractions but as settings for real human stories and struggles.
Practical Information
Best seasons: Spring (April-May) and fall (September-October) for weather and moderate crowds.
Transportation: Paris’s metro system is excellent. Buy a carnet (10-pack) of metro tickets (€17.25) or a Navigo Easy card. Regional trains to Normandy or other locations are efficient and affordable.
Where to stay: Paris has options for every budget. Staying in central arrondissements (1st-7th) puts you near most locations. Budget €80-200+ per night for accommodation.
Total budget for 3 days: €150-300 (excluding accommodation) if you eat at neighborhood restaurants and visit 2-3 museums.
What to watch before you go: Rewatch Lupin episodes before visiting specific locations. This primes you to recognize locations and enhances the experience.
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