There are scores of attractions in the French capital; the Sacré Coeur, Louvre, Arc de Triomphe and of course the Eiffel Tower. However on a recent visit standing outside the famous cabaret known as the Moulin Rouge topped my list. As we were staying in the Montmatre district it was too good to pass up.
Alighting from the nearest Metro station at Blanche on Line 2 onto Boulevard de Clichy means stepping out into the centre of the sex trade in Paris, lined with innumerable adult shops the famous red windmill which gives the theatre it’s name is clearly visible. Montmatre was also originally a village of windmills so it signifies this heritage.
It is unsurprisingly popular, few actually taking in the show but happily posing outside. Despite it beginning to snow, there was a steady stream of smiling tourists waiting their turn to pose, allowing their photographer to compose their perfect capture.
Montmatre was at the height of it’s acclaim around the turn of the 20th Century attracting artists, poets and performers to it’s attractive cobbled streets. Bars and theatres opened and the red light trade adopted the district, opening several brothels catering for the amorous if not romantically inclined.
Bring on the dancing girls, again and again
The Moulin Rouge first opened it’s doors to the public on a Sunday, 6 October 1889 in Quartier Pigalle, Montmatre. It seems unlikely that however visionary the managers Joseph Oller and Charles Zidler were they could not have anticipated the world renown their cabaret would achieve. It is one of Paris’s most visited attractions and home to the infamous can-can which is performed during every show, including the current one which is called “Féerie”.
There is a plaque outside which details the history in a slightly incomprehensible manner. It is one of the history plaques spread through the capital which explain important historical Parisian attractions.
We had not booked ahead and as it is exceptionally popular, therefore unlikely that tickets would be available so we did not get to see the dancing girls this time. The cheapest tickets available are €89, which of course has nothing to do with my reluctance. Actually it does, as even attractive scantily clad dancers which I can’t photograph are unlikely to persuade me to part with that sort of cash.
We made do entertaining ourselves by performing a can-can of our own in the snow and no you aren’t seeing any pictures of that!
I’m heading to Paris for my first time in May and I will have to check it out, although I have heard the area around the Moulin Rouge is not all that amazing
We went to Paris once on the spur of the moment, and had hopes of getting tickets but of course couldn’t. The concierge at our hotel recommended another place, name of which entirely escapes me. Although it didn’t have the cachet of the original it was pretty cool as tourist things go!
Love the picture. Gorgeous.
Linda recently posted..Empire: a Restaurant Worth Wearing Shoes For!
Such a perfect picture! I visited not long after I saw Baz Luhrmann’s Moulin Rouge, so had wonderfully wild notions in my head of what it would be like… and although it was a great night and worth the visit the movie in my head was so much better
Linda @EcoTraveller recently posted..The National Parks of Montenegro
Didn’t think much of that most recent movie about Moulin Rouge, but a place that I would like to go one day if I ever make to Paris.
Arlee Bird recently posted..#IWSG: Fear of Marketing & Diane Wolfe Book Announcement
It was indeed Arlee thanks for bringing it to my attention, retrieved as you can see. I’m certain the show is much more enjoyable than the film.
Beautiful photo, Iain. I haven’t been to Paris for a very long time (years, indeed) and although I used to go there quite often in the past, oddly enough I never went to see the famous Moulin Rouge.
Time to go back to romantic Paris, I guess
Simon recently posted..Hiking Alone, A Wonderful Intimate Experience