The production team scouted eight different countries in Europe looking for the best place to represent eighteenth century Paris, before settling on Barcelona, Spain.
The Fish Market scenes were shot in Barcelona's Gothic Quarter. Two and a half tons of fish and one ton of meat was used over the course of the shoot, and people as far away as six miles reported a bad smell in the air.
During pre-production, Tom Tykwer, Director of Photography Frank Griebe, Production Designer Uli Hanisch, and Costume Designer Pierre-Yves Gayraud studied the complete works of Caravaggio, Rembrandt, and Joseph Wright, in order to ensure this movie's aesthetic correctly captured eighteenth century France.
According to the official website, this movie featured sixty-seven speaking roles, five thousand two hundred extras, and one hundred two sets. Behind the scenes, five hundred twenty technicians were employed.
As of 2006, it is the most expensive German movie ever made.