The Cité du Cinéma in Saint-Denis has emerged as France's most spectacular event venue, transforming a massive 130,000 square feet of monumental architecture into an extraordinary cultural destination. Originally a former power plant turned cultural icon, this venue has become the ideal setting for diverse events, including the magical Candlelight concerts that illuminate its industrial grandeur with thousands of flickering candles.
The Cité du Cinéma stands as a true creative and event hub spanning 130,000 square feet, embodying the raw power of imagination. Initially known as the birthplace of France's greatest film productions, it now opens its doors to the public and businesses with unprecedented ambition. This spectacular space features gigantic volumes that showcase complete architectural reinvention, where industrial monumentality meets contemporary elegance.
The venue's remarkable history traces back to the industrial era, built upon the spectacular remains of a former power plant whose monumental structure still defines the site today. Located in Saint-Denis, far from Paris's historic center, this emblematic location represents the renewal of Greater Paris. The site embodies a heritage of power and transformation, anchoring itself in the history of the suburbs that have always been a major economic engine for the region.
Filmmaker Luc Besson served as the driving force behind the site's cinematic transformation, propelling it onto the world stage by installing his studios and making the Cité du Cinéma the factory of French cinema. This is where recent film history was written, including the establishment of the École Nationale Supérieure Louis Lumière, the historic French cinema school. The Cité du Cinéma directly inherits this ambitious vision as a place where imagination, creation, and technology converge.
What makes this building truly unique are its extraordinary dimensions and raw architectural appeal. The complex's heart features the spectacular Central Nave, a former machine hall with metallic frameworks extending 690 feet in length and soaring to 69 feet in height. Its design highlights the industrial heritage through polished concrete, vast glass walls, and metal structures that create a raw, chic, and contemporary style perfect for conferences and fashion shows.
At nightfall, this monumentality takes on magical significance when thousands of candles from Candlelight concerts illuminate the Central Nave. These intimate classical music performances transform the industrial architecture into an enchanting venue, with upcoming concerts including "Ed Sheeran meets Coldplay" and "Tribute to Hans Zimmer" scheduled for December 13, 2025, with tickets starting at 25 euros.
The Cité du Cinéma is strategically located at 20 Rue Ampère in Saint-Denis, in the heart of the Pleyel district amid Greater Paris construction projects. Visitors can access the venue via Metro Line 13, getting off at Saint-Denis Porte de Paris station. Massive transportation investments are currently transforming access to this emblematic location, with the future Saint-Denis Pleyel station on the Grand Paris Express placing the venue just 15 minutes from central Paris.
The venue holds fascinating production secrets, with its vast sets and backstage areas reportedly serving as locations for globally successful productions. Visitors might walk in the footsteps of iconic series like "Lupin," "Le Bureau des Légendes," and the American production "Emily in Paris." While these rumors remain unofficially confirmed for all locations, they underscore the Cité's exceptional attractiveness to major productions.
What is certain is the venue's hosting of major themed events like the Harry Potter Exhibition, where visitors discovered emblematic sets and original costumes used in filming the saga. This confirms the Cité's position as a place where cinema magic comes alive, offering fans unprecedented access to movie-making artistry.
The Cité du Cinéma made contemporary history by becoming a key site for the 2024 Olympics, serving as proof of its national importance and the relevance of its oversized infrastructure. The site was strategically chosen to serve as the Media Village and Main Press Center for the competition. However, this honor came with significant trade-offs, as the transformation required temporary cessation of film production activities, inevitably blocking part of the cinema industry during this period.
The venue opens its doors exceptionally to the public during the European Heritage Days, offering visitors a unique opportunity to penetrate the grounds and access the monumental Nave. These visits allow people to understand the full scope of this former power plant and creative hub, providing a rare chance to see behind the scenes of France's film industry.
The Saint-Denis territory offers numerous other historical and modern treasures nearby. Visitors can explore the historic Basilica of Saint-Denis, the necropolis of French kings, which provides a striking contrast to the Cité's industrial architecture. The Pleyel district, currently undergoing major transformation, also serves as a significant innovation hub, making the Cité du Cinéma just the beginning of an extensive cultural exploration in this rapidly evolving area of Greater Paris.
