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Paris at the heart of The Da Vinci Code |
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In 2005, 26 million tourists visited Paris. A record number that confirms the French capital as a leading destination for lovers of culture, history, romanticism… and mystery! There is no shortage of ways to add spice to these visits and since the publication of The Da Vinci Code, fans of Dan Brown’s book are discovering a whole new take on the City of Light, one of esotericism, art history and unsolved enigmas. The heroes of the novel – and soon the film – are at large in Paris, and the French capital, central to the plot, is revealed in all its beauty and also its mystery. It is an ideal setting and Paris plays its very own role in the story. On the trail of The Da Vinci Code, one can explore at leisure the principal locations in which the story is set, admire the works of art mentioned or even hope to come across some of the characters from the book. The wealth of the intrigue opens up new horizons, where all of a sudden fiction becomes reality.
This report was prepared with the collaboration of the Art Process agency
“Da Vinci” statistics, Mona Lisa’s smile...

The Da Vinci Code, on French cinema screens from 17 May
The blockbuster film based on Dan Brown’s novel is directed by Ron Howard and stars US actor Tom Hanks in the role of Robert Langdon and French actress Audrey Tautou as Sophie Neveu. The film is released in France in May to coincide with the Cannes film festival, just before it is launched worldwide.
“Da Vinci” statistics
- 40 million copies of the book are in circulation worldwide, including over 2 million in France (figures as at 28 February 2006).
- 300… the number of crew members present at the Louvre every day during the shooting of the film The Da Vinci Code.
- An international intrigue: with 40 different translations of this best-seller.
- Since the book was published, the number of pages consulted on the Opus Dei website has doubled (from 386,000 to 730,000).
Mona Lisa’s smile
7,300,000 visitors flocked to admire the Mona Lisa in 2005 compared to 6,700,000 in 2004.
Fans in Saint-Sulpice
In summer 2005, 20,000 additional visitors went to the Saint-Sulpice church, in the neighbourhood of Saint-Germain-des-Prés.
The Da Vinci Code takes the train
Eurostar staff have found more than a thousand copies of the Da Vinci Code left behind by passengers hooked on Dan Brown’s story and in hot pursuit of its characters.
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