Moulin Rouge

Moulin Rouge means red windmill in English. The Moulin rouge in Paris is just that, a red windmill located in the city’s red-light district. The exterior of the Moulin Rouge was the subject of several paintings by the famous painter Toulouse Lautrec. The Moulin Rouge and its culture were also the subject of a 1952 book by Pierre La Mure and two Academy Award nominated films.

The Moulin Rouge was originally built in 1889 by Joseph Oller and has remained a popular Paris tourist destination since it offered visitors a dinner-and-a-show experience that can’t be beaten.

The Moulin Rouge is often considered the home of the Can-Can, a dance that is still performed in the theater on a nightly basis. In its early years the Can-Can was used as a revealing dance performed for individual male clientele at the Moulin Rouge. With the popularity of music in Europe however, the Moulin Rouge eventually made a transition from “Gentleman’s Club” to a more traditional theater and nightclub.

A show is performed at the Moulin Rouge nightly. Shows typically will run at the theater until they decide to switch to something else, which can often happen without warning. If you want to see a particular show at the theater book your tickets as soon as possible. Shows at the Moulin Rouge often sell out. Show tickets can also be very expensive but will often include dinner.