The Moulin Rouge opened on October 6, 1889, in the Pigalle district of Paris’s 18th arrondissement, founded by Joseph Oller and Charles Zidler as the Jardin de Paris. Topped by its unmistakable red windmill, the cabaret quickly became the birthplace of the modern can-can dance and a magnet for Belle Époque nightlife, drawing artists like Toulouse-Lautrec who immortalized the venue in his posters.
The original building was destroyed by a devastating fire on February 27, 1915, and the venue sat dark for nine years before reopening in 1925. Major renovations followed in 1951 under architects Pierre Devinoy and Bernard de La Tour d’Auvergne. More than a century after it first opened, the Moulin Rouge still stages nightly cabaret performances and remains one of the most recognized entertainment landmarks in the world.
Stats at a Glance
- Location: 82 Boulevard de Clichy, Pigalle, Paris, France
- Type: Cabaret / live entertainment venue
- Opened: October 6, 1889
- Capacity: About 850 seats
- Famous for: Birthplace of the modern can-can dance
The Show Experience
Today the Moulin Rouge presents “Féerie,” a roughly two-hour revue featuring around 60 performers in elaborate feather, rhinestone, and sequin costumes, staged twice nightly to accommodate demand. The show carries on the venue’s signature can-can choreography alongside acrobatics, live music, and lavish set design, continuing a tradition of spectacle that stretches back to the 1890s.
A Paris Icon, Rebuilt More Than Once
The Moulin Rouge’s red windmill has become as recognizable as the Eiffel Tower, but it hasn’t survived unscathed. Beyond the 1915 fire that forced a nine-year closure, the windmill’s sails collapsed after a show on April 25, 2024. New aluminum blades were installed in time for the Paris 2024 Olympics that July, but they stood still for over a year while the electric motor and lighting were rebuilt, finally turning again on July 10, 2025, in a street celebration with dancers in red feathered costumes.
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Moulin Rouge FAQs
When did the Moulin Rouge open?
It opened on October 6, 1889, originally under the name Jardin de Paris, founded by Joseph Oller and Charles Zidler.
How many people does the Moulin Rouge seat?
The cabaret hall seats about 850 guests, with two shows typically staged each night.
Did the Moulin Rouge’s windmill stop turning?
Yes, its sails collapsed on April 25, 2024. New blades were fitted by July 2024, but they didn’t spin again until July 10, 2025, once the motor and lighting were repaired.
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Photo: Juanedc from Zaragoza, España / CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.