How is the Moulin Rouge in Montmartre, Paris

Moulin Rouge is the most famous and traditional cabaret of Paris, It certainly is the first name that comes to mind of anyone when asked about the famous concerts of the city of light. Located in Montmartre practically glued to the Blanche metro station, was opened in 6 October 1889. With a gigantic dance floor and mirrored walls the famous cabaret with the emblematic Red Mill on it´s facade went through several stages untill the present day. From cabaret, to movie theatre, Theatre and currently as one of the most iconic sites to tourists who pass through Paris.

How to buy tickets to the Moulin Rouge?

As commented in the post walk along the river Seine Cruise, I chose to purchase a combo, the boat ride + the show of the Moulin Rouge by Paris City Vision. On the site you can find all the options that the Paris City Vision has to offer with the show of the Moulin Rouge, are several packages, or individual tickets.

There is an option with dinner and show, other tours as it was my case plus the show, show with transport so you can return with tranquility to your hotel or apartment. I think this option is pretty cool for those who go to the show of the 11:00 pm because it´s a little late and the subway runs approximately until 1:20am daily, there ir also the night buses, but comfort is comfort. My ticket to the Moulin Rouge included a bottle of champagne,( There's also an option with a half bottle). The site offers many options, certainly some will please you. If not of Moulin Rouge Paris City Vision have options of other cabarets also.

Do I have to buy the ticket before?

For being one of the most famous sites of Paris, the competition for the show is huge, I tried to change the time of mine to the show of the 9:00 pm and I couldn't because it was crowded. so, to ensure your place and don't stress yourself out, buy in advance. Remembering that you need an international card for that, or if you don't have or prefer you can buy directly from Paris City Vision store. I had the joy of being served by a brazilian daughter of Recife that explained to me right this whole process in Portuguese, great huh? We feel safer when we are attended in our language. If you have purchased online, you need to present at the box office of the Moulin Rouge the voucher to get your ticket.

 

A little bit of the history of the Moulin Rouge, the Red Mill

After it´s opening, the balls quickly gained fame, joy for a few, great nuisance to others, the iconic Cancan girls with their energy and flexibility marked the final number of the show.

The Moulin Rouge was assiduously frequented by famous artists of the time like Touluse Lautrec who could epitomize the Cancan dancers and great cabaret balls on their peak in several of his works (17 directly linked to the cabaret). Beyond the glamour of the dancers and show of the Moulin Rouge, Touluse Lautrec was also known for portraying life in Montmartre at the end of the 19th century. As well as Renoir. In the end it was a great Exchange, both the cabaret made famous by the paintings of the artist as the artist known for his paintings of the Moulin Rouge.

Exuding glamour, extravagance, irreverence and some nudes, during their 10 first years the Moulin Rouge was success after success. At the turn of the century it´s shine began to fade, in December 1902 the last ball happened without major frissons, the Cancan was no longer so innovative. Until the beginning of World War I (1914) the Moulin Rouge, became a place dedicated to operettas.

In 27 th February 1915 the Moulin Rouge fire, destroying completely the ballroom and auditorium, only 10 long years after it was rebuilt. Already in 1925 During World War II the theater turned into a dance club but it´s glamour and relevance was no longer the same.

6 years after the world war, in 1951, the Moulin Rouge reopens its doors after several reforms carried out by Geroges France, who had bought the Moulin Rouge, with the intention of returning to space the spirit and original splendor of cabaret and it´s relevance as the best night of Paris. Already in 1955 the big red mill turn stage of big stars on the rise as Charles Trenet, Charles Aznavour, Line Renaud, Bourvil, Roger Pierre & Jean-Marc Thibault and Fernand Raynaud. And since then the big red mill regained it´s fame and glamour until this day.

How is the experience of going to the Moulin Rouge?

Impossible not to get infected with the frisson in cabert Street, the flow of tourists, spectators and curious in the front is intense. Everyone wants a record of the famous facade, which by the way does not have an angle very easy to get. The types are different, people richly produced, normal, and me with the clothes I walkedd all day by Paris and my inseparable blue Backpack on my back. I wouldn´t have, and it would be too tempting to go back to the apartment and never leave after walking so much. So I preferred to stay in the neighborhood then.

The facade richly illuminated in red with the large spinning mill spatulas wins grandeur as the sun goes down and it´s lights come on, finding the Moulin Rouge is not one of the most difficult things in Boulevard de Clichy in Montmartre. All the neighborhood exudes sexpeal, with many shops of lingeries, sex shops and shows. Here, until the Eiffel Tower, wins forms, Let's just say, unusual ( still wondering if I put the picture about it or not hahaha).

Bars and restaurants also abound, for you, as I did to wait a while 10 and wait Showtime, all very bright. Next to the Moulin Rouge is the famous Le Chat Noir, restaurant/bar that has an old poster printed in almost all ways throught all city souvenirs stores, I just bought as bookmark, coaster and an ecobag.

* many of the items I mentioned were purchased to give to friends and family I am not the crazy person of the souvenirs, Thanks, You are welcome *

After entering the Moulin Rouge, you follow the line of peoplein front of you until a large antechamber. It reminds me of a disabled ballroom. When the doors are open you follow through others corridors with some of the famous posters , until be facing the glass doors with written BAL DU MOULIN ROUGE, full of sparkles, crystals, sequins, and hearts.

On the left side of the entrance, If you arrive with time, it has a bar and a souvenir shop, full of Red mills in all possible applications, besides a lot of brightness, the gift shop is also available on line on the site of the Moulin Rouge.

Just like so many shows, and the Broadway shows the Moulin Rouge does not allow pictures during the show, but before you can register a little bit of the lounge. The tables are collectives, in other words, you don't know who's going to sit with you, In addition to your friends who are with you if you don't close an entire table. For someone who was alone, shy and slightly anti-social, This is for panic. But to my delight, I ended up getting a table just for me. When the waiter returned with the bottle of champagne, I checked if she was actually included in the price ( Carioca uptight stuff ), very nice, as everyone who attended me on this trip to Paris, he joked with me that everything was included, the show, the waiter, and the champagne, answered playing "how much", and he told me "after all, This is the Moulin Rouge!”. I felt very important and chic in my lonely table with the exclusive bottle.

The lounge with capacity for 900 people have a kind of glamorous circus air, illuminated witt lots of yellow lamps, fabrics and striped walls and mirror mosaics. All without taking the cozy environment, since the tables have a low light in each. The show didn't take long to start after I sat. In fact I was very late, the security of the place said it was wierd the show beeing so late, something that was not common. The queues for which I passed took a life. But I was sitting after a long day of walking through Paris, with a chilled bottle of champagne all to myself, so it was just enjoy.

Oh, the bathroom is outside of the room, don't go nearly entering the kitchen by accident as I did hahahaha.

The show Féérie is divided into 5 scenes.
The Moulin Rouge, today and yesterday
The Pirate
At The Circus
The Moulin Rouge, of 1900 the ...
International attractions

Among the main scenes the “International attractions” Intersperse the presentation. Certainly to give to the team time change, and let me tell you, that's a lot of people on stage all the time, ( with the exception the international attractions that are always in double ) Sometimes I thought I wasn't going to fit, persons ( 80 ), feathers, skirts, choreography, but surprisingly fit.

The beginning of the show is very quiet, relatively simple clothing, all dresses, as time goes on and the show develops, the clothes gets smaller and the audience goes crazy when the first girls covered with just a few strands of beads appear dancing and making noise with the beads hitting, not all that get practically naked, seems to have an X amount. All very thin, elegant, and super stretched, the legs go up until the head the whole show as if it were the most natural thing in the world. The girls Doriss Girls must have more than 1, 75 m to be part of the Moulin Rouge, While men Doriss Boys more than 1, 85 m. I'm out of the selection due to my pathetic 1, 68 m

Even performance in the air they do on scene The Pirates where the two main dancers sing and floats over the audience. Some clothes are transformed and bloom like flowers to form skirts, the production doesn't skimp on glitter and feathers. In the scene Au Cirque, the traditional and friendly ponies of the Moulin Rouge appear onstage to charm with it´s cuteness and rehearsed moves, all apparently very well obedient, They walk beside the girls, give around and goes out of the scene, a flash participation. I stumbled with the mini van that takes them to the Moulin Rouge in Paris a few times.

I know it's the Moulin Rouge, and the Cancan is the big moment expected, But while this time didn´t come I loved the performances "between acts" so to speak. At first a couple makes various movements and acrobatics on skates on a smal round stage, seriously, It's pretty small for the daring movements they do, it can rip some chills from the audience.

The second time the couple do stunts with a large arch, super beautiful and fluid movements. In my opinion the Moulin Rouge, Yes I know they are traditional, could give more space for this kind of performance is very impressive, even more so to close. Still have other performances during the show, but without doubt these two were the most impressed me.

Even before the great entrance of the Cancan girls, out of the blue a huge glass aquarium comes up with snakes where a ballerina dances with them into the water, the public stuck on stage almost goes crazy, especially when one of the friendly snakes resolves to leave the Aquarium. The rule came and solved in seconds, When I noticed that she was leaving, the rule had already put the snake back in the Aquarium.

Finally the grand finale arrives, and the Cancan dancing girls come with their blue. white and red , stuffed dresses, shaking from side to side the skirts in layers. The dance is very intense, the legs go up so easy it makes me envy, and the girls jump to land on the ground in spagate, According to the infographic Paris City Vision What I read, are 62 throughout the show. This Act left me exhausted by just watching. When you think they're going to take a break, starts all over again, intensity defines the Cancan.

About dealing with expectations

In life and especially in the world of travel, I try as much as possible not to create expectations, as much as I organize the script by the minute. I know that things will go wrong, or will not be as I dreamed, that's why I always try to expect what the place really has to offer when I get there. I had no idea of the size that would be the Hall of the Moulin Rouge, or the stage or anything, I was only aware of history. I found the stage small even more for the amount of people that stay on top, but I believe even the idea to give big volume.

I, Julia, I've never seen the movie Moulin Rouge ( Yes, shameful I know ) but I know people who dream about it, So, first step to enjoy the real Moulin Rouge take off the theater and the show of the film of your head so as not to be disappointed.

Bonus
If you like I love a show poster and likes to see the style used evolving over time, be sure to take a look at the Moulin Rouge with all posters, I thought it was pretty cool, the series was the years 60 the 80 .

 

Tip of Fora da Toca – Moulin Rouge

Doesn't show up in shorts and sandals of finger, you will be barred.
Get there early so you can sit calmly and enjoy the space.

Important Information – Moulin Rouge

Address 82 Boulevard de Clichy, 75018 Paris, France
Schedule shows at 9:00 pm and 11:00 pm
Attention Children are accepted from 6 years
Special values for children under 12 years
No photography, or shoot the show without permission

 

-Historical data site Moulin Rouge-