The candy-coloured classic feels like it takes place in a storybook nowhere – and it was filmed in Munich, Germany, where a Bavarian town played Charlie’s home and the city’s gasworks became the gates of Willy Wonka’s mysterious factory.
Where was Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory filmed?
Willy Wonka was filmed in Munich, Germany – at the Bavaria Film Studios and around the city and nearby Bavarian towns.
Every Willy Wonka location, explained
1
The factory and chocolate room – Bavaria Studios
Willy Wonka’s factory interiors, including the famous chocolate room, were built at the Bavaria Film Studios in Munich.
2
Charlie’s town – Munich and Bavaria
The grey town where Charlie lives used Munich and nearby Bavarian towns like Nördlingen.
3
The factory gates – the Munich gasworks
The exterior of the factory used the city’s gasworks in Munich.
4
The Bavarian streets
Charlie’s runs through the town used real streets around Munich.
Planning a visit
Munich and the storybook Bavarian town of Nördlingen – one of Germany’s best-preserved walled towns – are both charming, accessible pieces of the film’s world.
Willy Wonka Fun Facts
1
It's all Munich The film was shot in Munich, Germany, not an English-speaking country.
2
The kids hadn't seen the set To capture genuine awe, the child actors were reportedly kept from the chocolate room until they filmed the reveal.
3
The chocolate river was real The chocolate river was a real liquid mixture, which reportedly spoiled and smelled under the studio lights.
4
Wilder's grand entrance Gene Wilder insisted Wonka’s first scene mislead the audience with a fake limp.
5
Based on Roald Dahl It adapts Dahl’s novel Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where was Willy Wonka (1971) filmed?
In Munich, Germany, at the Bavaria Film Studios and around the city and Bavarian towns.
What played the factory gates?
The gasworks in Munich.
Can you visit the locations?
Yes – Munich and the walled town of Nördlingen are both accessible.
Is it based on a book?
Yes – Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
