Where It Is Set Versus Where It Was Filmed
The story is set in 18th-century France, primarily in Paris and Grasse, but almost none of the film was shot in those places as they exist today. The production chose Barcelona and other parts of Catalonia to recreate the period streets, with Bavaria Film Studios in Germany handling interiors, and additional location work in France and the Netherlands filling out the frame.
The Studio Side
Bavaria Film Studios in Grünwald, Germany, was the production's studio base, and the opening 15 days of the shoot took place entirely there for the Hoffman scenes. The complex operates as Bavaria Filmstadt, a visitable attraction with tours of its soundstages and backlot. Travellers should not expect original Perfume sets: the 2005 constructions were not preserved.
Tours That Visit These Locations
For travellers who want to see where the film was made without organising everything independently, one bookable option covers Barcelona's old city, including one of the film's key squares.
Bike Quest, Old City Film Stops
Barcelona: Interactive Movie Quest Bike Tour
This interactive bike tour passes through Barcelona's old city, including Plaça de la Mercè, the square used for the fish market scenes where Grenouille is born, alongside other movie locations in the city. It suits travellers who want a guided, active way to cover the Gothic Quarter's film sites.
Frequently Asked Questions
Was Perfume: The Story of a Murderer filmed in France?
Partly. Grasse and Moustiers-Sainte-Marie in southern France appear in the film, and some scenes were shot in the Netherlands, but the bulk of the location work happened in Barcelona and elsewhere in Catalonia, Spain, with interiors at Bavaria Film Studios in Germany.
Why was Barcelona used for 18th-century Paris?
The production scouted eight European countries and chose Barcelona because its Gothic Quarter and historic architecture could pass for Paris before Haussmann's renovations. Large sets, including the fish market, were built into existing streets.
Can you visit Poble Espanyol where the orgy scene was filmed?
Yes. Poble Espanyol is an open-air museum on Montjuïc that requires a ticket. Its central square was used extensively for the climactic scene, which involved 750 extras and over a week of filming.
Is the fish market square from the opening scene accessible?
Plaça de la Mercè is a public square in the Gothic Quarter, free to visit at any time. The production's set, including two and a half tons of fish, was removed after filming, so nothing remains on site today.
Are the original Perfume sets preserved at Bavaria Filmstadt?
No. The sets from the 2005 shoot, including Baldini's perfumery workshop interiors, were not preserved. Bavaria Filmstadt still runs studio tours of its soundstages and other productions' props.
How expensive was the film?
With a budget of around €50 million, it was the most expensive German film ever made at the time of its 2006 release.
Barcelona offers the densest cluster of locations, all reachable on foot or by bike in a single day, while Figueres adds a fortress with real star power and Provence rewards a longer trip. Munich's studio tour rounds out the itinerary for completists. Together they map a film that set its story in France but found its 18th century almost entirely in Spain.
