Where was Napoleon (2023) filmed? Ridley Scott built Napoleonic Europe without leaving England and Malta. From cathedrals to castles, here’s where the magic happened.
Ridley Scott’s Napoleon (2023) follows the controversial French emperor’s rise through the chaos of the French Revolution, his obsessive love affair with Joséphine, and his bloody military campaigns across Europe.
Joaquin Phoenix stars as the complex general-turned-emperor, with Vanessa Kirby as Joséphine and a supporting cast including Tahar Rahim, Rupert Everett, and Mark Bonnar.
The film crams decades of history into two and a half hours of epic battles, political scheming, and awkward marriage counseling. And none of it was filmed in France.
Table of Contents
👑 Napoleon 2023 Filming Locations (Hint: France Said “Non”)
From the battlefields of Austerlitz to the bedrooms of Joséphine, here’s exactly where Ridley Scott built his Napoleonic empire – no passport to France required.
⛪ Lincoln Cathedral, Lincolnshire – Notre-Dame de Paris
Lincoln Cathedral, Lincolnshire, is a 900-year-old English cathedral that’s never looked more French. In Ridley Scott’s Napoleon, it played Notre-Dame de Paris, where Napoleon’s grand coronation as Emperor of France took place.
Historical Background:
- On December 2, 1804, Napoleon famously seized the crown from Pope Pius VII and placed it on his own head to symbolise that his power did not come from the church. Power move or tantrum? You decide.
Trivia:
- The cathedral previously doubled as Westminster Abbey in The Da Vinci Code. Once a church, always a church.
- The production copied Jacques-Louis David‘s famous 1807 painting, The Coronation of Napoleon, as verbatim as possible for this scene.
Travel tips:
- Coronation Floor Tour: Ask your guide specifically about the Napoleon shoot; they often share anecdotes about the hundreds of extras who filled the nave for the coronation. Yes, they remember the guy who fainted in full uniform.
- The Lincoln Imp: While inside, try to spot the tiny stone “Lincoln Imp” high up in the Angel Choir – a local legend unrelated to the film but a must-see for any visitor. He’s been judging people for 700 years.
- View from Steep Hill: For the best exterior photo, walk down Steep Hill; the view looking back up at the cathedral towers captures the same scale Ridley Scott used to mimic Notre-Dame. Your Instagram will thank you.
💂🏽 Fort Ricasoli, Kalkara, Malta – Siege of Toulon
Fort Ricasoli in Kalkara, Malta, is a 17th-century fortress that’s been stabbed, stormed, and streamed more than a reality TV villain’s reputation. The 1793 Siege of Toulon, the storming of the British-held fort and the port, was filmed here.
Historical Background:
- This was Napoleon’s first major military victory.
- He was wounded in the thigh by a British bayonet during the assault – a detail the film depicts for accuracy. So yes, the man who would conquer Europe once limped away from a stabbing.
Trivia:
- This 17th-century fortress also appeared as the Red Keep in Game of Thrones and in Ridley Scott’s Gladiator. So, Jon Snow and Maximus walked the same stones.
- The production built a period-accurate three-masted frigate, based on the 1741 HMS Blandford, specifically for the harbour scenes. That’s not a prop – that’s a boat you could actually sail to France.
Travel tips:
- Fort Ricasoli is still an active filming site and is often closed to the general public.
- The best way to see it is to take a harbour cruise from Valletta or just become an extra in the next HBO show.
🦗 Hankley Common, Surrey – Battle of Austerlitz
The vast plains of Hankley Common in Surrey were used to film the Battle of Austerlitz, in which Russians and Austrians retreated across a frozen lake.
Historical Background:
- In December 1805, Napoleon defeated the superior numbers of the Russian and Austrian empires by feigning weakness and drawing them into a trap.
- Known as the “Battle of the Three Emperors,”Austerlitz (1805) is considered Napoleon’s greatest victory. It remains a masterclass in psychological warfare and tactical positioning.
- The “frozen lake” drowning is largely considered a historical myth or an exaggeration used by Napoleon for propaganda; only two bodies were found when the ponds were later drained.
Two. Not thousands. But it looks cool, so Scott kept it.
Trivia:
- Hankley Common is a frequent stand-in for war zones, appearing in 1917 and Skyfall. James Bond and Napoleon: same battlefield energy.
- Canadian troops built a concrete replica of Nazi Germany’s Atlantic Wall on Hankley Common in 1943 to practice breaking through before the real D-Day invasion.
- Ridley Scott returned to this area, as it was also where he filmed the opening battle of Gladiator. He has a type.
- While the common provided the hills, the “frozen lake” sequence was actually a digital composite. The actors were filmed on Abingdon Airfield, where that giant concrete tank was built.
- To film the drowning sequence, crews dug a 30m by 14m concrete tank and filled it with water, using mechanical horses and “cracking platforms” to simulate the ice breaking. That’s the most expensive slip ‘n slide in cinema history.
Travel tips:
- Access is subject to the needs of military training, with frequent training exercises.
🏡 Petworth House, West Sussex – Château de Malmaison
Petworth House in West Sussex was used to film the “Victim’s Ball” in Château de Malmaison, where Napoleon meets Joséphine for the first time. It hosted scenes with his generals and lots of pointing at maps.
Historical Background:
- “Victim’s Balls” (bals des victimes) were rumored events held after the Reign of Terror for those whose relatives had been guillotined.
- Napoleon and Joséphine met in late 1795. He was six years younger than her, whereas the film portrays him as older.
Trivia:
- Ridley Scott chose the location because its “Palladian” style felt more French than typically English. The British are still confused by this compliment.
- The ball was filmed in a single continuous shot moving through multiple dressed rooms, including the Marble Hall and Grand Staircase. No cuts, no second chances, no pressure.
Travel tips:
- Free History Tours: Arrive before noon to join one of the free volunteer-led tours. These provide critical context for the “Victim’s Ball” scenes filmed in the Marble Hall and Beauty Room. Also, volunteers love talking about Napoleon’s height (he was average, stop asking).
- The Art Collection: Spend extra time in the North Gallery. Ridley Scott was specifically inspired by Petworth‘s massive art collection, which includes works by Turner and Van Dyck. Because one art nerd recognizes another.
- Deer Park Views: After seeing the interiors, walk into the 700-acre Deer Park designed by ‘Capability’ Brown for panoramic views of the South Downs. The deer are not historically accurate to Napoleonic France. They don’t care.
🏰 Blenheim Palace, Oxfordshire – Fontainebleau & Tuileries
Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire, a UNESCO site where Winston Churchill was born and Napoleon pretended to live, was used to film the interiors and staterooms of Napoleon’s Tuileries Palace and Fontainebleau. Exterior battle scenes were filmed on the palace grounds.
Historical Background:
- The Tuileries Palace was the primary residence of French monarchs and Napoleon in Paris.
- Fontainebleau was where Napoleon famously abdicated his throne in 1814 before his first exile. The ultimate “you can’t fire me, I quit” energy.
Trivia:
- Moving furniture and changing lights turned one palace into three different countries. Interior decorating with ambition.
Travel tips:
- “Green Travel” Discount: Book your tickets online and show proof of travel by bus, bike, or train (Hanborough is the nearest station) to receive a 20% discount on admission. Napoleon rode horses; you can ride a bus.
- The Harry Potter Connection: While exploring the 12,000-acre estate used for battle scenes, look for the “Harry Potter Tree” (a Cedar of Lebanon) featured in Order of the Phoenix. Napoleon and Voldemort: both bald, both power-hungry, both had nose issues.
- App & Audio Guide: The Blenheim Palace App has a free audio tour that highlights filming locations and the palace’s 300-year history. It’s like having Ridley Scott in your pocket, but quieter.
🏜️ Merzouga Desert, Morocco – Battle of the Pyramids
The Merzouga Desert in Morocco stood in for the Battle of the Pyramids during Napoleon’s campaign in Egypt, where historical accuracy went to die, dramatically.
The film famously shows Napoleon firing cannons at the top of the Pyramids. Ridley Scott defended this historical inaccuracy as a way of saying Napoleon took Egypt. Translation: “I don’t care, it looked awesome.”
Historical Background:
- Napoleon’s 1798 campaign was scientific as well as military, leading to the discovery of the Rosetta Stone.
- He actually held the pyramids in high esteem and would likely have viewed damaging them as a waste of resources. But again, explosions.
Trivia:
- The actual Battle of the Pyramids took place several miles away from the structures, well out of effective artillery range. Napoleon couldn’t have hit them if he tried.
🏫 Old Royal Naval College, Greenwich, London – Paris Streets & Military Scenes
The “Sistine Chapel of the UK” played host to France’s most chaotic political moment. The colonnades of the Old Royal Naval College in Greenwich, London, were used to film the revolutionary streets of Paris during the Terror.
The Painted Hall played the Château de Saint-Cloud, where Napoleon staged his coup d’état. The Upper Grand Square showed citizens enduring cannon bombardment.
Historical Background:
- The Coup of 18 Brumaire (November 1799) effectively ended the French Revolution and brought Napoleon to power as First Consul.
- It took place at the Château de Saint-Cloud, just outside Paris, where Napoleon famously had to be rescued by his brother Lucien from an angry mob of legislators. Nothing says “I should lead France” like needing your little brother to save you.
Trivia:
- The production spent 17 days on-site, using the Upper Grand Square to film citizens enduring cannon bombardment. That’s 17 days of pretending London is Paris. The locals were confused.
- There’s a poetic irony in the location: The Painted Hall is where Napoleon’s great nemesis, Lord Nelson, lay in state after his death at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805. Napoleon’s big scene was filmed literally on top of his enemy’s funeral hall. Ridley Scott has a sense of humor.
Travel tips:
- The Painted Hall: Start your walk inside this Baroque masterpiece. It was the setting for the Coup of 18 Brumaire, where Napoleon confronted the council. Look at the ceiling. You’ll see why it’s known as the “Sistine Chapel of the UK.”
- Upper Grand Square: The open area between the domes was transformed into a bustling Parisian street. This is where the 13 Vendémiaire scene was filmed, featuring citizens fleeing cannon fire.
- The Colonnades: Walk beneath the massive stone pillars where Napoleon’s troops marched. These covered walkways provided the scale of imperial French architecture.
🏰 Stowe House, Buckinghamshire – Elite French Interiors
The grand staterooms and neoclassical halls of Stowe House, Buckinghamshire, were used to film opulent French palaces and military headquarters – a mile-long triumphal arch avenue that screams, “I won something.”
Historical Background:
- During the Empire, Napoleon revived the “Grand Manner” of the Bourbon kings to make Europe forget he was a revolutionary upstart. Basically, he redecorated aggressively.
Trivia:
- Filming at Stowe House was so secretive that some reports said it was cancelled. Then crews showed up on the mile-long road with the triumphal arch. Conspiracy confirmed.
- The house once belonged to a guy who claimed to be the King of France. That’s not a set. That’s the royal’s actual house.
⛪ Mdina, Malta – The “Silent City.”
The narrow medieval streets of Mdina, Malta’s Silent City, were used to film Napoleon and Joséphine in intimate settings, specifically under the gate of St. Paul’s Cathedral.
They provided the authentic sun-drenched stone backgrounds that the English countryside couldn’t replicate. Sometimes you need just a vacation.
Historical Background:
- Napoleon actually captured Malta in 1798 while en route to Egypt.
- In six days, he reformed the government, abolished slavery, and started public schools. Then the British showed up.
Six days. Most people can’t unpack in six days.
Trivia:
- Ridley Scott refers to Malta as an “architectural gem” and has used it for three different films (Gladiator, White Squall, and Napoleon). He should get a loyalty card.
Travel tips:
- Mdina’s Silence: To experience the “Silent City” like it appears in the film, visit early morning or after sunset when the day-trip crowds have left.
⚓ HMS Victory, Portsmouth – The Final Exile
The HMS Victory in Portsmouth is a real ship you can visit today. The movie used it to film Napoleon’s final scenes. But here’s the thing – the real Napoleon never set foot on this ship. Not once.
So what really happened? After Napoleon lost the Battle of Waterloo, he surrendered to the British on a different ship called the HMS Bellerophon.
Then they moved him to another ship called the Northumberland and exiled him to St. Helena, where he lived the rest of his life.
So why did the movie use the HMS Victory? Because the Bellerophon doesn’t exist anymore. The Victory does. And it looks great on camera.
The funny part? The HMS Victory belonged to Lord Nelson – Napoleon’s biggest enemy. So the movie put Napoleon on his enemy’s ship and pretended it was his surrender ship. That’s like filming your wedding at your ex’s house.
Also fake: The movie shows Napoleon meeting the Duke of Wellington inside the Victory’s Great Cabin. The meeting never happened historically, but the cabin is real! Ridley Scott thought it would be cool. And he was right.
Travel tips:
- Address: Victory Gate, HM Naval Base, Portsmouth PO1 3LJ, United Kingdom.
- Access: A short walk north of the Portsmouth Harbour train and bus stations.
- Parking: Official parking at Admiralty Road (PO1 3GW), roughly 400 yards from the Victory Gate entrance.
- Hours: Typically open daily from 10:00 AM to 5:30 PM (closing at 5:00 PM in winter months)
- Bring a hard hat: The ship is undergoing a massive 10-year, £45 million restoration project dubbed “Victory Live: The Big Repair.”
🎬 Studio Locations & Movie Magic
Abingdon Airfield was used to film the “frozen lake” tank sequence (mechanical horses, concrete, chaos). Various sound stages hosted the interior palace scenes, close-up drama, and places where Joaquin Phoenix stared intensely.
Trivia:
- Ridley Scott’s Napoleon was filmed in just 62 days, a breakneck pace for an epic of this scale. Most people take longer to commit to a gym membership.
- Scott utilised up to 11–14 cameras simultaneously, allowing him to capture massive battle sequences in only a few takes. Quantity has a quality all its own.
- On-set “armies” typically consisted of 300 to 500 extras and 100 real horses. These were digitally multiplied to create the appearance of 20,000 soldiers for scenes like Waterloo.
- For dangerous stunts where horses appear to trip or fall, Scott used lifelike mechanical horses – hydraulic rigs that could explode with fake blood on impact or be dropped through trapdoors into water tanks.
- Real horses were trained to swim for the Austerlitz sequence, entering and exiting water via submerged ramps. Meanwhile, human extras attended a boot camp to master period-accurate drills and musket loading.
- 14 practical cannons were built to fire pyrotechnics. For safety, they fired talcum powder when actors were directly in front of the muzzle. So everyone smelled like baby powder while pretending to die.
- Military advisor Paul Biddiss ran the boot camp. His job was ensuring extras didn’t look like they’d never touched a musket before. Some failed.
- Special effects coordinator, Neil Corbould, manufactured those 14 real cannons capable of firing black powder for authentic flashes. For scenes where actors were in the “line of fire,” talcum powder saved the day.
- Ridley Scott specifically requested that cannonballs be visible in flight. They traveled at roughly 120 mph – slow enough to be seen by the naked eye – so VFX teams added them based on real footage of projectiles pulled through water. Yeah, physics!
📜 Is Ridley Scott’s Napoleon Historically Accurate?
Short answer: Non. Long answer: Non, but with a French accent.
Let’s break down the famous inaccuracies:
Napoleon at the Front:
- Movie: In the film, Napoleon is shown personally leading cavalry charges, particularly at Waterloo.
- Reality: Napoleon was a “rear-commander” who stayed back to maintain strategic oversight. Risking the head of state in a direct charge would have been tactically reckless.
But it looks cool, so Scott did it anyway.
The “Whiff of Grapeshot”:
- Movie: The 13 Vendémiaire scene depicts Napoleon firing cannons point-blank into a Parisian crowd.
- Reality: This did happen and was a turning point in his career. However, the “crowd” included thousands of armed royalist insurgents, making it a military engagement rather than a simple massacre of civilians.
Context matters, but explosions matter more.
Trenches at Austerlitz:
- Movie: The film shows French troops hiding in WW1-style trenches and using camouflage nets.
- Reality: Trench warfare was not a standard feature of Napoleonic tactics; battles were typically fought in open fields using line and column formations.
Scott borrowed from a different war entirely.
Firing on the Pyramids:
- Movie: Cannons targeting the tops of the pyramids.
- Reality: The Battle of the Pyramids took place several miles away – well out of artillery range. Napoleon held Egyptian history in high regard.
Scott’s response? “I don’t care.” And honestly? Respect.
The Frozen Lake Massacre:
- Movie: Hundreds drown at Austerlitz.
- Reality: Only two bodies were found when the ponds were later drained. Napoleon exaggerated for propaganda. Scott exaggerated for the cinema.
The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.
The Verdict: Ridley Scott prioritised cinematic spectacle and practical effects over rigid historical doctrine. The film is a vibe, not a documentary. And most fans are okay with that.
❓ Napoleon FAQ
Is there a Ridley Scott Napoleon 4-hour cut?
Yes! A 4-hour director’s cut is confirmed for release on Apple TV+. The theatrical cut is 2.5 hours. The extended cut reportedly includes more of Joséphine’s story and additional battle footage. Napoleon stans, rejoice.
Napoleon 2023 parents’ guide: What’s the age rating?
Rated R for strong violence, battle sequences, sexual content, and some language. The sex scenes between Napoleon and Joséphine are notably explicit. Historians have noted their correspondence was equally spicy, so… accurate?
What was the Napoleon 2023 production budget?
Reported to be between $130-200 million. One of the most expensive independent productions ever made (Apple financed it). You can see every penny on screen.
What is the Napoleon 2023 worldwide gross?
Approximately $221 million worldwide as of early 2024. Respectable but not a blockbuster. The 4-hour cut may bring curious viewers back.
Who stars in Napoleon 2023?
- Joaquin Phoenix as Napoleon Bonaparte
- Vanessa Kirby as Empress Joséphine
- Tahar Rahim as Paul Barras
- Rupert Everett as the Duke of Wellington
- Mark Bonnar as Czar Alexander I. Phoenix (reportedly improvised much of his dialogue. Scott let him).
What are the best Napoleon 2023 battle scenes?
Austerlitz (the frozen lake sequence, however inaccurate) and Waterloo (the mud-soaked finale). Both feature hundreds of extras, practical explosions, and cannonballs you can actually see.
Where was Napoleon born?
Ajaccio, Corsica, on August 15, 1769. Corsica had been French for only one year. Technically, Napoleon was French-Italian. Don’t mention this to French historians.
Where was Napoleon crowned emperor?
Notre-Dame de Paris on December 2, 1804. The self-crown placement? Absolutely real.
Where was Napoleon exiled?
Twice! First to Elba (1814-1815) – he escaped after 10 months. Second to Saint Helena (1815-1821) – he died there. The film covers both.
Where was Napoleon buried?
Initially on Saint Helena. His remains were returned to France in 1840 and interred at Les Invalides in Paris under a golden dome. You can visit today. He’s very dead and very gold.
Where was the 2002 Napoléon miniseries filmed?
The 2002 Napoléon miniseries used historic sites across Europe, but relied heavily on CGI for battle scenes.
- Hungary: Buda Castle, Esterházy Castle, Festetics Palace, Tata Castle, & Sándor Palace.
- Morocco: Agadir, Merzouga, and Erfoud for scenes requiring desert settings (Egypt).
- Czechia: European scenes requiring different architectural backdrops.
- St Helena: The island where Napoleon died, used to film his final exile years.
- France: Limited filming on location in Napoleon’s home country
- Austria: A small number of exterior shots.
📺 Where to Watch Napoleon 2023
Now that you know where it was filmed, here’s where you can actually watch the thing.
- Amazon Prime: Available via Apple TV+.
- Other Platforms: Google Play, YouTube Movies, Vudu, Microsoft Store, Sky Store.
So, Ridley Scott filmed all of this in 62 days with up to 14 cameras running at once. He’s 86 years old. What have YOU done this week?
Disclaimer: This fan-created article is provided for entertainment purposes only. We don’t guarantee the accuracy of any of these facts and don’t recommend making important life decisions based on them. All referenced titles, names, and related intellectual property are the property of their respective owners, and no copyright infringement is intended.
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