Moulin Rouge
Moulin Rouge is one of the narrated stops on the self-guided Paris audio walking tour in Gingerguide. Plan about ~150 min here. Press play at the spot for its two to three minute story, or ask the AI guide anything about it.
- Type theater
- Suggested visit ~150 min
- Paris Paris guide
About Moulin Rouge
The legendary 1889 cabaret at the foot of Montmartre hill, birthplace of the can-can, immortalised by Toulouse-Lautrec's iconic posters and still staging 700 spectacular shows a year.
The Moulin Rouge, the Red Mill, is the most famous cabaret in the world, a Paris institution that has been staging spectacular entertainment since it opened on 6 October 1889, the same year as the Eiffel Tower. Founded by Charles Zidler and Joseph Oller, it was built at the foot of Montmartre hill to attract both the working-class locals and the bourgeoisie seeking an exciting evening. Its most famous innovation was the can-can dance, the French can-can, which scandalised and delighted audiences in equal measure with its high kicks, petticoat reveals, and extraordinary athleticism.
The great Toulouse-Lautrec was a fixture of the Moulin Rouge in the 1890s, producing some of the most celebrated posters in art history depicting its performers, La Goulue, Valentin le Désossé, Jane Avril. These images, now instantly recognisable worldwide, essentially invented the art of the modern graphic design poster. Today the Moulin Rouge still stages a nightly revue, Féerie, with 60 artists, 100 costumes, and the famous red windmill on the roof.
Did you know? The Moulin Rouge opened on the same day, 6 October 1889, as the Eiffel Tower was in its first year, both emblems of Belle Époque Paris.
How long should you spend at Moulin Rouge?
Plan about ~150 min at Moulin Rouge. That is enough to take it in and hear its narrated story; stay longer if it grabs you. The tour is self-guided, so there is no rush.
Is Moulin Rouge worth visiting?
Moulin Rouge is one of the 44 sights the Gingerguide team researched and narrated in Paris, so it earns a place on a self-guided walk. Its story explains why it matters, and you can ask the AI guide anything the story leaves open.
Nearby stops in Paris
Hear the story of Moulin Rouge
Preview the Paris tour free in the Gingerguide app.