4 Must-Visit Places in Europe for Movie Lovers

The world’s oldest film studio, a movie theme park, an entire museum dedicated to the works of Federico Fellini and Germany’s film-set town are all places you can visit during family travel in Europe.

The former court stables in Potsdam, Germany, house the oldest film studio in the world, where many of Germany’s best-known movies have been produced over the past 100 years. The famed Babelsberg studio, where recent classics including Grand Budapest Hotel were produced, is now part of Filmmuseum Potsdam.

Along with exhibits on international filmmaking and tours of historic film sets, props and costumes, visitors can watch stars and crews in action in this working film studio and take behind-the-scenes tours in English. Hands-on experiences include the chance to sit behind a news or weather desk in a TV studio. Along with the exhibits, the museum also has regular screenings of international and German movies. The museum’s 4-D cinema shows the latest Hollywood hits, and special programs for children include watching the filming of kids’ TV shows.

Kids will also like the adjacent Filmpark Babelsberg, a movie theme park with exciting rides based on favorite films. Along with rides such as the XD Motion ride, kids can visit the Witch House, Sandman House, a Medieval village and a Western town. Kids can even take a stunt workshop.

Germany’s easternmost town of Görlitz is one of the rare towns in Saxony that escaped major destruction in World War II, retaining more than 4,000 historic buildings dating from as long ago as the 1200s. These streets and squares lined by medieval buildings provide authentic settings for film-making (scenes from both Grand Budapest Hotel and The Book Thief were shot here). Pick up a free movie location map from the tourist office.

In Rimini, Italy, a museum is dedicated to the career of Italian director Federico Fellini. The interior of the imposing Castel Sismondo is the main center for International Federico Fellini Museum, where you can immerse yourself in the world of fantasy and spectacle Fellini created. Throughout the 16 rooms are films, documentaries, interviews, scripts, costumes, props and technological solutions he used to create effects in his films. An entire room focuses on La Dolce Vita.

The museum continues in nearby Palazzo del Fulgor, housing the recently restored Fulgor Cinema, where Fellini films are screened weekly. Its upper floors exhibit original movie scripts from classics like La Strada, costumes, photos and film clips. Federico Fellini was born and grew up in Rimini and is remembered elsewhere in the town, especially in Borgo San Giuliano, a former fishermen’s neighborhood of small houses and stone-paved streets. Walls are decorated with scenes and designs, many reflecting themes from Fellini films.