Moulin Rouge
Ce point d’intérêt est disponible en audio dans le circuit: Visit Paris, The Bohemian Quarter
Sure, you’ve heard of the Moulin Rouge, but what do you really know of its history? The Moulin Rouge opened its doors on October 6, 1889, during the carefree days of the Belle Époque. Its goal was to amuse and entertain in a time of peace and prosperity. Its founders, Joseph Oller and Charles Zidler, also owned the Olympia Music Hall, so they knew the business and what their clientele was looking for! There was lots of dancing, laughter, champagne flowing and extravagant decor! They even had an elephant statue in the garden! Soon, new dance styles were born. The French quadrille was revolutionized, becoming the famous Cancan. This dance, originally known as the Chahut (a French term meaning noisy disorder or rowdy behavior), was frowned upon by the conservative society of the time. You see, back then, the dancers would wear slit panties under their petticoats, and, well, this wasn’t to everyone’s taste! Over time, the dance evolved into a more toned-down, touristy version, with female dancers in normal panties, all lined up in front of the audience. Thus was born the French Cancan as we know it today. In 1915, a fire destroyed the original building, which wasn’t rebuilt until 1925, with the legendary Mistinguett as co-director. She forever marked the history of the Moulin Rouge with her dazzling performances, and the cabaret really struggled when she left. Then came World War II that put an end to the era of carefree entertainment. It wasn’t until 1950 that the Moulin Rouge was renovated and reopened in the presence of French President Vincent Auriol. And so began a new chapter in the cabaret’s life, this time with artists like Bourvil, known for his gentle humor and popular songs, Aznavour, celebrated for his soulful voice and songwriting talent, and Charles Trenet, the beloved French singer and composer famous for his poetic and timeless chansons. Today, the cabaret hosts revues every night and invites you to dine in a venue that has seen countless nights of laughter and joy.
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