Heritage Days 2024: visit the mysterious Cinema Station, used for film shoots

FromEmily in Paris to The Fabulous Destiny of Amélie Poulain, not forgetting La Haine, L'Écume des Jours and the Lupin series, Paris is still the stuff of dreams for many filmmakers, and their viewers. And, of course, it's impossible to show everyday life in the City of Light without taking a trip on the Paris metro...

To film these scenes on public transport, RATP has a hidden station, specially dedicated to filming movies, music videos and commercials. The Station Cinéma is located at Porte des Lilas, between lines 11 and 3bis, and is usually closed to the public.

During the Journées du Patrimoine (Heritage Days) on September 21 and 22, 2024, RATP is offering us the chance to visit this secret station free of charge. This major cultural event is back for its 41st edition, and gives us the chance to discover numerous curiosities and hidden sites in Paris and the Île-de-France region. It's always a popular event with the curious, and we wouldn't miss it for the world!

• To be read
• Tips for the week of September 9 - 15, 2024 in Paris: free or inexpensive outings
• What to do in Paris and the Paris Region in September 2024? Back-to-school ideas

Please note that tours are by reservation only, and open on September 10 and 17, 2024 at 12 noon. Hurry, places are going fast!

On the program for these Heritage Days at the RATP Cinema Station:

• Backstage at the cinema station
  September 21 and 22
  

  As a partner of the European Heritage Days, RATP is offering you a network-wide journey to discover its heritage in a fun way: events, exclusive experiences, tours... everything is planned to get you on board!
  
  Everybody's seen it on the big screen, but nobody's used it since 1939: Porte des Lilas station is closed to the public, but is a favorite with film-makers, who use it to infuse their films with the atmosphere of the Paris metro. Every day, thousands of passengers pass through the Porte des Lilas station, unaware that behind a gray door lies another station, a veritable movie set where an average of 5 films are shot every year.
  
  Revelations and anecdotes will be revealed during this unusual visit.

  
  
  

Are you fascinated by the world of railways or the 7th art? Discover our special selections for these Heritage Days in Paris and the Île-de-France region.

Heritage Days 2024: stations and trains to visit for railway enthusiasts
Trains and stations fascinate young and old alike! If that's your case, you're in luck: many railway sites can be visited on September 21 and 22, 2024, during the Journées du Patrimoine (Heritage Days). [Read more]

Journées du Patrimoine 2024: outings for film buffs in Paris and the Île-de-France region
For the Journées du Patrimoine 2024, discover the world of cinema in Paris and the Île-de-France region on September 21 and 22. Go behind the scenes with our selection of cinemas and museums dedicated to the seventh art! [Read more]