At first glance, Villefranche-sur-Mer almost seems too perfect to be real. Its small harbour, colourful façades, steep narrow streets and sweeping bay look like something straight out of a film. And yet, it is not simply a handful of passing filmmakers who have fallen in love with the town: more than 150 films and television movies have been filmed, at least partly, in Villefranche-sur-Mer.

What is particularly fascinating, however, is that when you watch these films, you do not always recognise Villefranche. On screen, the town has been transformed into Macao, Biarritz, Nantes, Gibraltar and even Palmyra! Its Mediterranean scenery has therefore been used to represent cities sometimes located thousands of kilometres away from the French Riviera.

Since the early days of cinema, Villefranche-sur-Mer has attracted film productions. Its proximity to Nice and the former Victorine Studios certainly made it easier for film crews to come to the area, but it is above all the diversity of its scenery that explains its success. Within just a few streets, you can move from a Mediterranean harbour to a historic fortress, from a medieval alleyway to a villa overlooking the sea.

The town’s quays have travelled particularly far on screen. In Macao, l’enfer du jeu, released in 1939, Villefranche represents… Macao! The French Riviera harbour is transformed into an Asian setting, proving that filmmakers were already making the most of the village’s distinctive atmosphere.

A few years later, in Captain Horatio Hornblower, released in 1951 and starring Gregory Peck, the quays of Villefranche were used to represent 19th-century Nantes. The transformation is remarkably convincing, and when watching the film, it is difficult to imagine that some scenes were actually filmed on the French Riviera.

The same idea was used in Gibraltar, released in 1938: Villefranche’s citadel becomes a fortress supposedly located… in Gibraltar. And this is not the only time the citadel has changed countries. In Never Say Never Again, released in 1983, it was transformed into the fortress of Palmyra in Syria.

This is ultimately one of the pleasures of exploring Villefranche through cinema: trying to recognise places you may have seen in films, while knowing that they were supposed to represent somewhere completely different.

Among the most famous productions filmed here, it is impossible not to mention Never Say Never Again, starring Sean Connery as James Bond. The 1983 film used several locations in Villefranche-sur-Mer. The harbour, the Darse, the citadel and a villa on Avenue de l’Olivier all appear on screen. Some scenes even give Villefranche a very different appearance from the one we know today.

But James Bond is not the only famous character to have made an appearance here.

In 2007, Mr. Bean’s Holiday also used the French Riviera as a filming location. A few years later, Killers, starring Ashton Kutcher and Katherine Heigl, came to Villefranche-sur-Mer as well. The village’s quays and landscapes became the setting for an American comedy. The town hall of Villefranche-sur-Mer also lists the film among the many productions that have filmed in the town.

And there is another particularly amusing example: Brice de Nice. The character is supposed to live in Nice, but some scenes were actually filmed in Villefranche-sur-Mer. The quays of the Port de la Santé were used to represent Nice, even though the camera was actually a few kilometres away from the city.

This is what makes cinema in Villefranche so fascinating: sometimes you watch a film thinking you recognise a city, when the actual location is just around the corner.

A little tip: if you know the French Riviera well, have fun trying to spot the filming locations while watching these movies. A façade, a staircase or a section of harbour may suddenly look very familiar!

If you would like to discover Villefranche-sur-Mer through the world of cinema, there are several must-see locations to include in your walk.

Start at Port de la Santé, one of the locations regularly used by film productions. This is where the harbour quays were notably used to represent Biarritz in Brice de Nice. Then continue towards the Port de la Darse, another iconic filming location in Villefranche, which notably appears in Never Say Never Again.

Next, head towards the Saint-Elme Citadel. Built in the 16th century, its impressive architecture has made it suitable for representing locations all over the world. In Never Say Never Again, it becomes the fortress of Palmyra. In Gibraltar, it takes on the appearance of a fortress supposedly located in Gibraltar.

Finally, take the time to explore Rue Obscure, one of the most unusual passages in the old town. This former covered street has also attracted filmmakers, including Jean Cocteau, who filmed scenes from The Testament of Orpheus there in 1959.

And if you would like to continue exploring, the best approach is simply to wander without following too precise an itinerary. Hotels, restaurants, quays and small streets in Villefranche have all served as filming locations over the decades.

Ultimately, Villefranche-sur-Mer is almost an actress in her own right. Depending on the needs of the screenplay, it can become French, American, Asian or even Middle Eastern. This ability to change its identity is undoubtedly one of the reasons why so many filmmakers have brought their cameras here.

So, the next time you walk through the village, look at the quays and colourful façades differently. Behind the peaceful atmosphere of this small town on the French Riviera may be the setting of a film you have already watched, without ever knowing it was filmed here.