Kaufman could not film in Czechoslovakia, which was still in the Soviet bloc where Milan Kundera's novel was banned. The movie was shot in France, mostly in Lyon that stood for much of Prague. Geneva sequences were filmed in Geneva itself. Interior scenes were shot at Boulogne Studios near Paris.
Tomas (Daniel Day-Lewis) meets Tereza (Juliette Binoche) in a spa town – Thermes de Luxeuil-les-Bains, 3 Avenue des Thermes, Luxeuil-les-Bains, Haute-Saône, France.
Tomas' apartment – 1 Rue de la Loge, Lyon, France. The apartment is located at the foot of Montée du Change.
Tomas and Tereza are frightened by the arrival of Soviet tanks – Rue Juiverie, Lyon, France.
In the scenes depicting the Soviet occupation, archival footage is combined with new material shot in Lyon.
Tomas and Tereza see Sabina leaving in a car – Montée du Chemin-Neuf, Lyon, France.
Rue Tramassac at Rue de la Bombarde, Lyon, France.
Here's the real Prague footage of Kostel Matky Boží před Týnem (The Church of the Mother of God before Týn).
...and the Cathédrale Saint-Jean-Baptiste, Place Saint-Jean, Lyon, France.
The Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourvière seen from Place Saint-Jean, Lyon, France.
Place Saint-Paul with the Church of Saint-Paul, Lyon, France.
The Soviet troops are trashing Czechoslovak flags in a courtyard – L'École nationale vétérinaire d'Alfort (EnvA), 7 quater Avenue du Général de Gaulle, Maisons-Alfort, Val-de-Marne, France. In 1905, Buffalo Bill stayed two months in Maisons-Alfort while his famous Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show performed in Paris.
Sabina is looking at the Monument National, Jardin Anglais, Geneva, Switzerland. Inaugurated in 1869, this monument symbolises the entry of Geneva into the Swiss Confederation on 12th September 1814. It was constructed to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of this alliance, which was commemorated with celebrations in September 1864 and 1869.
Sabina (Lena Olin) meets Franz (Derek de Lint) – Promenade du Lac, Geneva, Switzerland.
Franz invites Sabina to a restaurant but then she abruptly leaves complaining about the music – Quai du Général-Guisan 34, Geneva, Switzerland. The restaurant used to be called Le Grand Quai, then Gusto but it's apparently closed now.
Sabina is standing at the Pont des Bergues, Geneva, Switzerland.
Tomas and Tereza arrive in Geneva – Place de Neuve, Geneva, Switzerland. The Grand Theatre de Geneve is seen in the background.
Tomas meets with Sabina – Hôtel de la Cigogne, Place de Longemalle 15-17, Geneva, Switzerland.
Tereza is feeling lost and alienated – Quai du Général-Guisan, Geneva, Switzerland.
Tereza is riding a train in Czechoslovakia – Gare de Senlis, Senlis, Oise, France.
Sabina on a merry-go-round – Place de la Madeleine, Geneva, Switzerland.
Tomas is feeding the swans – Quai des Bergues, Geneva, Switzerland.
Back in Prague, Tomas is driving to his apartment – Rue Juiverie looking at Rue de la Loge, Lyon, France.
An official's wife is going to her apartment where she will have a tryst with Tomas – Hôtel de Beauvais, 68 Rue François-Miron, Paris, France. The building has since been renovated and restored and houses the Administrative Court of Appeal of Paris.
Tereza visits an engineer (Stellan Skarsgård) who might have been an informant for the StB secret police – Cour des Voraces, Lyon, France. The courtyard, built around 1840, is famous for its monumental six-story façade staircase, also known as the free-flight staircase. This impressive staircase connects 9 Place Colbert to 14 Montée Saint-Sébastien or 29 Rue Imbert-Colomès, providing a fascinating passage through the levels of the courtyard. It is now listed as a historic monument, preserving its unique heritage and its importance in the history of the city.
Tomas sees Tereza from the bridge – Pont Marie, Paris, France. The sculptures were added to imitate a Prague bridge.
Tomas and Tereza settle in the Country - Magny-Saint-Médard and Bèze, Côte-d'Or, France.
The house where Sabina lives after having moved to the U.S. – 77 Olema Bolinas Road, Bolinas, California, U.S.A..
