Moulin Rouge, Paris

Thanks to Aussie director Baz Luhrman and our famous export Nicole Kidman, the Moulin Rouge has become a part of popular culture. Since the film it has reached the status of Paris 'must see' on many more people's list (including mine I have to admit, no use denying it).

If you are on a limited budget like me then you may have to be content to admire the icon from outside and not fork out something like 150 Euro per person for a dinner and a show. Big ouch for me.

I caught the metro there and arrived at 10:30pm and the place was sooooooo busy.... buses, people......a hive of activity. The place looked amazing lit up at night though and staring at the famous windmill the words 'Truth, Freedom, Beauty and Love' really do swim around in your head. I'm a but emotive I'm afraid and although I spent a grand total of maybe 15 minutes there it was definitely worth the trip.

When I went I saw Feerie!

"Féerie" includes four main acts created to fulfill their international audiences' dreams:

The Moulin Rouge, today and yesterday, the Moulin Rouge forever»; «Sandokan», a beautiful love story set in Indonesia; «The Circus», the circus comes to town !; «The Moulin Rouge from 1900 to...» the Moulin Rouge pays a tribute to Parisian women throughout the years!

The tickets for the late show (11 pm) were about $80, but it included half a bottle of Champange. The waitors really arn't the nicest people in the world, but you're going for the experiance not the sevice.

The Moulin Rouge club is definitely one of the seedier parts of Paris. If it feels a little dodgy by day, at night the plaUsce takes on a much more sordid feeling. The strip clubs all around it come alive, and there are people around you would rather steer clear of. The bouncers in these clubs can try and get a little too touchy feely if they think that you are pointing your camera a little too close to their club, they will come after you, and they aren't the sort of people to mess with! I had to make a rather rapid exit at one point...

The moulin rouge has recently been immortalised by Nicole Kidman and others in a Hollywood musical. The club is famous around the world for the dancers and their skimpy costumes.

The nearest Metro is Blanche.

We made a visit to the outside of the Moulin Rouge, deciding it was just a tourist trap. Last year on our "Travel Channel" in the US there was a special about the Moulin. Now, I wished I would have spent the money to see this flamboyant show. The ladies and gents, from around the world, who are allowed to peform here are carefully selected for their height and their dancing ability. The costumes cost thousands. The dancers go through rigourous training and some learn to perform in the giant aquarium. Las Vegas has an abundance of dancers and shows, but there is still something special about seeing the cancan at the Moulin Rouge.

This building was erected in 1885 and turned into a dancehall in 1900. Only the red sails outside date from the orginal nightclub.

The Moulin Rouge is open 7 nights a week, 8 pm to 2 pm. Elegant attire required

To be honest, I don't know much about this place. I guess its for plays and stuff, and it would have been cool to check it out, but I was only in Paris for one day. But go see it, there's probably a good reason why its a popular destination...

Our hotel (Hotel Utrillo) was only 2 streets away from the Moulin Rouge, so it was on our must see lists! Unfortunately, with a 5 year old, we were denied entry, but it was fun to take photos in the foyer!

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Brilliant Fab Fantastic Doo doo doo doo doo doo doooo la la la la la la laaaa la la la la la la laaaa .... Thats me singing the CanCan, which the Moulin Rouge is famous for. If you are "in to" musical shows, then this is a must see. You can attend for the show only, or for the show with a dinner (incl 1/2 btl champagne). The meal is not massive, but it is a nice atmospher to dine in, plus to get to attend a whole evening of entertainment. Pricing at the time (Nov 2003) was structured roughly as below:

Show with Dinner (with choice of three menu options):
French Cancan 135 euro, Toulouse-Lautrec 150 euro, & Belle Epoque 165 euro.
Half bottle of champagne included in price.

Show alone:
9pm @ 95 euro & 11pm @ 85 euro

...so its expensive if you are not too sure about whether you would like to attend or not. The atmosphere is great though, and the old touch is still there. I enjoyed the Moulin Rouge film (of 2000) even moreso after being there. They kept many of the facts of decoration, layout as fact.

Seeing the building and windmill outside lit up at night time is quite a site also. Appeared smaller that I had imagine it to be, but wow, coooool. The picture to the left was taken at this time.

Thumbs Up from me. Really worth the trip :)
The show is great, and the builiding was a must see for me :)

And while you are there ....while brighter ....hit Sacre Couer on top of Mont Marte Hill nearby, literally around the corner, and up a bit of a ..well ..ok.. a hill, but it is walkable. There are fairly reasonable hotels for accomodation closeby - quite reasonable in fact for Paris. I have been advised, and think its best to avoid the ones on the main Moulin Rouge street (please correct me if I am wrong)...there are nice tourist hotels up towards the hill.

For this particular photo of mine, I'd appreciate it if you let me know, and/or acknowledge usage of same.

My girlfriend loved the movie and found this as a "must see". She told me the women were topless so I offered to take her in ;). I found out you need a reservation a couple days in advance. On a serious note, I think it'd be a good paris experience. It's kind of pricey. Tickets ran for about 120+ Euro each (with a meal and champagne). I suggest finding a deal online.

We settled for a couple drinks at the bars around the area and a picture. The area around the moulin rouge is kinda of ghetto, so keep a hand on your wallet/purse.