Back to the Heritage Days with Parisi Tour

On 16 and 17 September, to mark its first participation in the European Heritage Days, we offered around fifty free 2CV tours on the theme of festivities in Montmartre, from the 19th century to the 20th century.^. century to the present day.

The whole team, as well as the public, had a great time during this weekend-long celebration of "living heritage". 120 privileged visitors were able to discover the secrets of Montmartre's nightlife, including the venues that have made this Parisian village the stuff of legend the world over.

On the road, in our time-travelling car - the irreverent Citroën 2 C - we'll take you back in time to the cabarets of Paris.

From the beginning of the XIX^. In the 19th century, Montmartre, a town on the outskirts of Paris, attracted Parisians looking for entertainment. Alcohol was cheaper and less taxed than in Paris. People came here to find a certain social mix, freedom and already a certain carefree attitude. Montmartre was then just a hill made up of meadows, vineyards, windmills (around thirty of them!) and makeshift houses.

At the beginning of the 19th century, balls were the most popular form of entertainment.^. century, which welcomed the first Parisians. There was a lot of dancing and drinking. The Elysée Montmartre and the Moulin de la Galette are perfect examples. The former opened its doors in 1807. It is said to be one of the oldest, where the quadrille, the ancestor of the French cancan, was danced. The dancer in bas-relief on the façade is a reminder of the original function of this venue, which became a concert hall. The second mill belonged to the Debray family, who decided in 1834 to turn it into a ballroom open to the public on Sundays (while the mill remained in use the rest of the week). The Moulin de la Galette ball inspired many artists from the middle of the century through to the Belle Epoque. Renoir's painting of the same name, now on show at the Musée d'Orsay, bears witness to this.

In 1860, Montmartre became part of Paris, following the expansion law (under Napoleon II and Haussmann). The words "ANNEXION PARIS 1860" are inscribed on the façade of the building at 86, boulevard de Rochechouart, located between the Trianon and the Cigale (two former music halls).

The bals de la Butte were poorly attended and Parisians found it hard to go. In 1881, an event changed everything: the opening of the Chat Noir! This café-theatre, frequented by the artistic avant-garde, changed the nightlife scene in Montmartre. From then on, a spirit of irreverence and unlimited creativity reigned on the hilltop.

Capitalising on the success of Le Chat Noir, new venues, each more original than the last, opened. In the last quarter of the XIX^. century - the Belle Epoque! - Montmartre became a veritable amusement park. A new business was born! The Moulin Rouge, the Divan Japonais, Heaven, Hell and the Cabaret du Néant also opened their doors.

To stand out from the crowd, cabarets came up with incredible acts that gave rise to real stars: La Goulue (a famous French cancan dancer), Vincent le Désossé (a contortionist dancer), Le Pétomane... one of the star attractions of the early days of the Moulin Rouge.

Le Pétomane, a musician of unusual talent who, according to legend, owes his fame to an anatomical peculiarity... The secret is still out! A surprising melody that provokes general hilarity with every sound! It is said that nurses had been hired to relieve women who, in spasms of laughter, would faint.

The French cancan revolution! In 1890, women were still largely covered in public. So showing their underwear to the bourgeoisie or wearing a low-cut neckline was a complete revolution in morals. Erotic provocation! You let your thighs show. The police went to all the establishments where the cancan was danced to check that the knickers were sewn on, because at the time underwear was slit (for practical reasons). The police checked that virtue was being respected.

For many, the cancan marked the beginning of sexual liberation and women's emancipation. In just a few months, La Goulue became a star of international renown. Her name became associated with a certain idea of the Parisian woman, saucy, immodest and wildly erotic.

In 1900, during the Universal Exhibition (the most successful ever held in Paris!), the world flocked to the Moulin Rouge to admire the famous French cancan shows. People came to watch those known as "the little ladies of Paris". Paris has become the symbol of festivity for the whole world!

Did you know that a racecourse had been built on the Place de Clichy? One of the largest theatres ever built in Paris, the Hippodrome was inaugurated to coincide with the 1900 Universal Exhibition.

Located on the Place de Clichy, at the junction of Rue Caulaincourt and Rue Forest, this sumptuous equestrian theatre could hold up to 7,000 spectators (including 5,000 seated)! Monumental shows were presented (a sort of Puy du Fou before its time!). The most popular was the re-enactment of the life of Vercingetorix, with almost 850 performers and 120 horses. In 1905, the famous American buffalo hunter BUFFALO BILL presented his "Wild West Show". The Parisian public witnessed stagecoach attacks, buffalo hunts and rodeos.

A few years later, the Hippodrome was bought by a certain Léon Gaumont, who turned it into the largest cinema in the world (6,000 seats). The Gaumont-Palace was demolished in 1973 (to become what we know today, a Castorama and a Mercure hotel).

The face of Montmartre's nightlife may have changed over the last 200 years, to say the least, but nightlife and cabarets are still at the heart of the city! Many of these legendary venues have disappeared, while others have retained their original activities, sometimes adapting to the fashions and tastes of the day.

The Parisi Tour team, and in particular the guides, particularly appreciated this tour, which was devised to mark the Journées du Patrimoine (Heritage Days), as the public seemed to be captivated by this history of Montmartre's nightlife. Know the past to understand the present!

We can't possibly tell you all about the surprising discoveries we made during our research. So we invite you to come and discover Montmartre with Parisi Tour!