Production service in France

Fixers, Producers & Local Crew in France

We can provide local production services in France in terms of crew, locations and logistics and more. Our experienced producers and fixers are used to manage and coordinate international shoots of all kinds: TV-series, feature films, commercials, branded content, documentaries, corporate as well as still shoots. We operate all across France and can help tailor crew anywhere.

Filming permits in France

Being a production-friendly country, France has a lot to offer. There is usually no permit needed for crews under 10 people and without tripods. Permits for shootings in the city, for parking, installations and road permits including road closures in intervals can be obtained in as little as 3 weeks. In addition, there are no location fees for public places.

We can help out with applications and all necessary paperwork, should this be needed. If you are not sure whether you need a filming permit or not, just drop us an email with info about your shoot and we’ll sort things out.

Filming locations in France

France has a well-developed ecosystem for productions and is the host to numerous productions ranging from print or catalogue shoots, TV and internet commercials, TV shows and feature films.

France can offer an impressive range of spectacular locations such as Paris and the prestigious French Riviera, not to forget nearby Monaco or the fashion and glamour of Monte Carlo, Saint-Tropez and Cannes! It offers a rich variety of natural places, from Mediterranean cities to sand dunes, from scenic routes with the view of the Alps to cliffed coasts, as well as historical landmarks from medieval to contemporary, and last but not least the French cuisine!

Every corner of France boasts efficient and regular transportation – highways, trains and air connections – providing quick and convenient access to your location. Nice, for example, has an airport within a walking distance from the city and offers numerous international connections.

Should you have any questions, just drop us an email and we will be glad to provide assistance in logistics, location scouting, crew searches, permitting, production facilities and community relations, in addition to financial incentives.

Some of our favorite filming locations in France are:

Auvergne Volcanoes Regional Park

One of Europe’s largest regional parks (it’s roughly the size of Rhode Island), the Auvergne Volcanoes Regional Park consists of a cluster of around 80 dormant volcanoes.

Biarritz, Basque Coast

A renowned summer getaway for royals and celebrities alike (you might remember it from Hemingway’s The Sun Also Rises), the beaches of Biarritz, in Basque country along the Bay of Biscay, are not only gorgeous—they’re also hugely popular with surfers thanks to their mellow, safe-for-beginners waves

The Camargue, Provence

The Camargue is a marshy delta between the Mediterranean and the two branches of the Rhône that feels like another continent. Visitors can take Jeep tours deep into the wilderness punctuated with briny ponds, red salt flats, and wind-whipped reeds and grasses. You’ll also see the Camargue’s trademark free-roaming white horses and some of its 400 bird species, including herons. If you’re lucky, you might even spot flamingos.

Canal du Midi, Occitanie

Canal du Midi is a tree-lined, 150-mile-long waterway running from the city of Toulouse down to the Mediterranean.

Champagne-Ardenne, Vineyards

As its name suggests, Champagne-Ardenne is the birthplace of bubbly and one of the most beautiful regions in France. The area is covered with idyllic valleys and vineyards, of course, but also ancient castles, chateaus, and abbeys. Make sure to visit the capital city of Troyes for splendid churches from the Middle Ages, and Reims for underground wine cellars and the masterpiece Cathédrale Notre-Dame.

Chateau de Chambord, Loire Valley

While it’s not one of the best-known French palaces, Château de Chambord is certainly one of the loveliest. Located inside a wooded park in the Loire Valley, the majestic building brings plenty of drama to the landscape—and that’s before you have a chance to see the swirled staircase, intricate ceilings, and 17th- and 18th-century furnishings on the inside.

Chateau de Chenonceau, Loire Valley

The entire Loire Valley is a treasure trove of beautiful castles,  but Château de Chenonceau easily rises to the top of the pack—both in terms of beauty and popularity. The current château was built on top of an old mill starting in 1514, while the trademark bridge and gallery were added about 60 years later. Today, the river-spanning structure and surrounding gardens are one of the most-visited attractions in the entire country.

Colmar, Alsace

Walt Disney would surely approve of Colmar, with its timber-framed houses, colorful facades, and flower-lined canal. The commune is a delight to take in, whether its strolling the cobblestoned streets or taking a canoe trip down the water. Along with Kayersberg and Strasbourg, this provincial town is a trademark of the beautiful and charming Alsace region, located in northeastern France near Germany and Switzerland.

Corsica

Located between France and Italy, the island of Corsica feels like it belongs in two nations at once. Although it’s best known as Napoleon’s birthplace, the island is worth visiting for its stunning protected nature areas. At Porto-Vecchio, on the southern coast facing Italy and the Tyrrhenian Sea, visit Palombaggia Beach for clear water, pinkt-tinted  sand, and gentle afternoon breezes.

Cote de Granit Rose, Brittany

Perhaps nowhere in northwestern Brittany is quite as breathtaking as the Côte de Granit Rose (or the Pink Granite Coast), a coastline dotted with spectacular granite rock formations. The geology ranges from massive rose gold boulders to eroded pink sand, all contrasting beautifully against the gray foam of the sea.

Dune of Pilate, Nouvelle Aquitaine

Spanning nearly 620 miles, the Dune du Pilat is the largest sand dune in Europe, and well worth a day trip from Bordeaux. Pack your bag with some local oysters, climb the 360-foot staircase to the top, and enjoy the magnificent sites for hours: You’ll see blue ocean on one side, green pine forest on the other, and paragliders lilting in every direction above.

Etretat Cliffs, Normandie

Located along France’s Alabaster Coast, the pebble beach of Étretat is popular among sailors and surfers. But most visitors come to this stretch of coast in Upper Normandy for one reason: The famous chalk cliffs and arched rock formations. At various points along Étretat’s 80-mile stretch, you’ll find natural sculptures that have inspired travelers and artists (most notably Claude Monet) for ages.

Gorges du Verdon

Gorge du Verdon is often referred to as the “Grand Canyon of France.” And although it might be smaller than its American counterpart, it certainly doesn’t fall short in terms of beauty. The 2,300-feet-deep valley was formed by the Alpine Verdon River, a dazzling turquoise stream that flows into the artificial Lac de Sainte-Croix. Hiking and horseback riding trails weave throughout the vertical limestone cliffs, connecting tiny villages and offering once-in-a-lifetime views.

Lac D’Annecy, Haute-Savoie

Fed by alpine streams and a deep water spring near the town of Annecy, Lac D’Annecy—roughly 30 miles from the Swiss city of Geneva is among Europe’s most pristine secret lakes. The site is ideal for hiking and swimming, even though the water barely pushes the 75 degree mark at the height of summer. Just one more excuse to warm up with a traditional French Alpine meal come dinnertime.

Marqueyssac Gardens, Dordogne

The famous Gardens of Marqueyssac make up one of the most stunning landscapes in France—and the world. The 150,000 bubbly boxwood trees and hedges wrap around a 17th-century chateau that overlooks the Dordogne Valley. The entire vista looks like an illustration from a Perrault fairytale.

Menton, French Riviera

The town of Menton has all the beauty of the Cote d’Azur’s  better-known coastal cities (I e Marseille,Nice)  but a fraction of the crowds. With over 316 days of sunshine a year, exceptional gardens, boutique-filled alleyways, and quality Italian cuisine due to its position on the Franco-Italian border, it’s an ideal spot for a day trip.

Monet Garden, Giverny

Giverny is a small village on the border of Normandy most famous for being the site of Claude Monet’s cherished riverside house and garden, both of which are open to the public today. The pastel pink house is pretty as a picture, with spring green shutters and ivy crawling up every surface. And the gardens are like an impressionist painting come to life, with water lilies, weeping willows, wisterias, and the famous green Japanese bridge.

Mont Blanc, Chamonix

The roof of western Europe is the birthplace of alpinism and home to one of today’s most vibrant mountain sports communities, so it’s a given that Mont Blanc and its subsidiary peaks needn’t bow to any mountains, anywhere. It’s needle-like, Gothically-drawn skyline is the kind that inspires poets and painters.

Mont Saint Michel, Normandy

Rising up from vast sandbanks and powerful tides, the rocky island of Mont Saint-Michel gives off an otherworldly appearance in its position off France’s northwestern coast in Normandy. A small medieval village, complete with winding streets and tiny houses, sits on the island, but the crown jewel is undoubtedly the Abbey of Mont Saint-Michel. The incredibly abbey was built in 708 A.D., and was the inspiration behind the castle in Disney’s Tangled.

Paris

Yep, the whole darn city. There’s a reason the word flaner can’t be translated perfectly into English—the idea of a long, aimless stroll taken simply to soak up the scenery seems utterly French. And in Paris, there’s always something to stroll past. Walk the Promenade Plantee, considered the world’s first elevated park  stock up on cheese and wine for a picnic in Luxembourg Gardens, and end the day watching the sun set behind the Eiffel Tower.

Pont Du Gard (Romann Aqueduct), Occitanie

An ancient Roman aqueduct that crosses the Gardon River in southern France, Pont du Gard was built in the first century A.D. and named a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1985. The structure carries water 31 miles to Nîmes and stands 160 feet high on three levels, making it a technical—as well as artistic—masterpiece.

Rocamadour , Dordogne

At Swixer, we’re big fans of hilltop towns in general, but Rocamadour stands out with its spectacular views over the Alzou canyon. The one-street town (pop. 626) is known for its cliffside collection of religious buildings, including Chapelle Notre Dame with its famous Black Madonna statue.

Senanque Abbey, Provence

The seemingly endless stretches of lavender make Provence one of the prettiest (and best-smelling) places in France. One of the most scenic spots to enjoy the flower fields is Sénanque Abbey, a 12th-century church near the village of Gordes. The gentle heather-gray color of the abbey looks custom-made for its surroundings, particularly in June and July when the acres around it bloom into a sea of purple.

Strasbourg Cathedral, Alsace

Strasbourg’s Gothic cathedral is sometimes known as “The Pink Cathedral” for its trademark color, which comes from the reddish sandstone used to build it. Although the original plans called for a pair of spires on top of the church, only one was built, giving the building a unique, somewhat mysterious look.

Palace of Versailles

An enduring symbol of the pinnacle of luxury, Louis XIV’s 18th Century Residence  is one of the more impressive combined displays of art, architecture, interior design, and landscaping in the world. It houses a sumptuously decorated chapel and a full opera house. Don’t miss the queen’s bedchambers, a masterpiece of over-the-top-ness; the legendary Hall of Mirrors, still used by the French government today to receive heads of state; or the three square miles of gardens.

The weather in France

France’s climate provides a full range of moods. Four distinct seasons to all-year warm regions such as the Côte d’Azur which can also propose snow-capped mountains (November through to early May) nearby. The warmest and most reliable weather is from April to June.