Moulin Rouge history is shorter than most Paris landmarks, but it packs in a poster artist, a fire, a wartime comeback and a dance that the world still copies. I wrote this page from Wikipedia and Wikidata, and I give dates and numbers exactly as they appear there. First comes a timeline, then the story by period, then 12 facts with a source for each. If you have already decided to go, my page on Moulin Rouge tickets compares the show, dinner and champagne options with prices and ratings.
Moulin Rouge History Timeline
Year
What happened
1889
Charles Zidler and Joseph Oller open the venue on 6 October
1891
Toulouse-Lautrec makes his first Moulin Rouge poster, featuring La Goulue
1907
Mistinguett makes her debut on 29 July in the Revue de la Femme
1915
A fire destroys the venue on 27 February during building works
1925
The Moulin Rouge reopens after nine years
1944
Edith Piaf returns to the stage here, with Yves Montand
1957
Doris Haug’s troupe Doris’s Girls begins with four dancers
2024
The windmill blades collapse on 25 April and the windmill is restored on 5 July
Moulin Rouge History: The 1889 Opening
The Moulin Rouge stands at 82 Boulevard de Clichy, at the Place Blanche in Montmartre. Wikipedia says Charles Zidler and Joseph Oller co-founded it, and that Oller also owned the Paris Olympia. It opened on 6 October 1889, originally as the Jardin de Paris, an outdoor cafe-concert. Wikidata gives 1889 as the opening year, which matches. The red windmill on the roof gave the place its name and is still the landmark you look for from the street.
Moulin Rouge History and the Can-Can
Wikipedia credits the venue with the birth of the modern can-can, which it describes as a seductive dance introduced by courtesans and later developed into its own revue entertainment. The French cancan remained a staple of the revues. That is why the cancan finale is the part of the show most visitors expect, and I explain what a modern evening looks like on my Moulin Rouge map page.
The painter Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec is part of this story. Wikipedia says he created his first poster for the Moulin Rouge in 1891, featuring La Goulue, a dancer of the time. The posters turned the venue into something Parisians recognised even if they had never been inside.
Stars, Fire and Reopening
Mistinguett made her Moulin Rouge debut on 29 July 1907 in the Revue de la Femme, per Wikipedia. Then came the worst day in the venue’s history. On 27 February 1915 the Moulin Rouge was destroyed by fire during building works, and the nine-year closure that followed ended when it reopened in 1925. Wikipedia also records that Edith Piaf returned to the stage at the Moulin Rouge in 1944, shortly after the liberation of Paris, accompanied by Yves Montand.
The Modern Moulin Rouge History: Doris’s Girls and the Windmill
Doris Haug’s troupe, Doris’s Girls, began in 1957 with four dancers and later grew to sixty, according to Wikipedia. The venue holds 850 people, per the same article, which is why you see the stage from nearly every seat in the room. The newest chapter in Moulin Rouge history happened to the building itself: the blades of the roof windmill collapsed on 25 April 2024 with no injuries reported, and Wikipedia says the windmill was restored on 5 July 2024. Show times and prices change, so I keep the practical details on the Moulin Rouge opening hours guide.
How the Moulin Rouge History Shows Up Today
The Moulin Rouge history above is not only in books. The show listed on GetYourGuide is called Féerie, and the two main listings both include entrance to the Moulin Rouge and a ticket to that cabaret, with half a bottle of champagne on the show ticket. The meeting point for both is the building itself, at 82 Boulevard de Clichy, the same address Wikipedia gives. The cancellation terms are strict: both say the activity is non-refundable, so choose your date carefully.
If you would rather connect the cabaret to the district, the listing for the Montmartre Tour with Moulin Rouge and Sacré-Cœur is a two-hour guided walk. It includes the Moulin Rouge windmill, the former homes of Van Gogh, Renoir and Picasso and Au Lapin Agile, and it meets at the newspaper kiosk by Blanche metro station. It has only 3 reviews so far, so I treat its 5.0 as a promising sign, not proof. That tour is the one I would pair with this history page if you want the context before the show.
Why the Moulin Rouge History Is Easy to Get Wrong
Many short summaries of the Moulin Rouge history mix up three separate things: the venue, the dance and the film. The venue opened in 1889. The modern can-can is credited to it by Wikipedia, but the dance grew from courtesans’ entertainment and then became its own revue number, so the Moulin Rouge did not invent dancing in Paris. And the film titles that borrow the name, such as Moulin Rouge! from 2001, are listed by Wikipedia among the screen works that use the venue, not as part of its own timeline. When you read a date, ask which of the three it is about.
12 Moulin Rouge Facts With Sources
The Moulin Rouge opened on 6 October 1889 (Wikipedia); Wikidata gives the year 1889 (Wikidata).
It was co-founded by Charles Zidler and Joseph Oller (Wikipedia).
The windmill blades collapsed on 25 April 2024 and it was restored on 5 July 2024 (Wikipedia).
What I Could Not Confirm About Moulin Rouge History
Some numbers you will see online are not in the sources I used. Wikipedia does not give a total number of dancers working at the Moulin Rouge today, only the growth of Doris’s Girls from four to sixty. It also does not give a figure for annual visitors, and Wikidata only gives the opening year, so I leave those out. If a number matters to you, check it on the official site.
See the Moulin Rouge History Come to Life
The show is the best way to feel this history. The most-reviewed option in my comparison is the Cabaret Show Ticket with Champagne at $134, rated 4.7 from 19,131 reviews, and it runs about 2 hours.
Moulin Rouge Cabaret Show Ticket with Champagne
★4.7 (19,131 reviews)
2 hours
My pick: The most-reviewed option: $134, 4.7 from 19,131 reviews, show and champagne in about 2 hours.
What you get, where you meet, what reviewers say
Included
✓ Entrance to the Moulin Rouge
✓ Ticket to the Moulin Rouge cabaret "Féerie"
✓ Half a bottle of Champagne
✓ Service and tips
Not included / not suitable
✕ Transportation
Meeting point: Moulin Rouge 82 Boulevard de Clichy, 75018 Paris, France
Duration: 2 hours
Cancellation: This activity is non-refundable
“One of our highlights visiting Paris, show is amazing.” – GetYourGuide review
If you want a full evening, the Dinner Show at the Moulin Rouge is $284, rated 4.8 from 3,945 reviews, and takes about 4 hours.
Dinner Show at the Moulin Rouge
★4.8 (3,945 reviews)
4 hours
My pick: The dinner option: $284, 4.8 from 3,945 reviews, about 4 hours.
What you get, where you meet, what reviewers say
Included
✓ Entrance to the Moulin Rouge
✓ Ticket to the Moulin Rouge cabaret "Féerie"
✓ Dinner from selected menu (choose your preferred option while booking)
✓ Half a bottle of Champagne or 2 soft drinks
✓ Service and tips
Meeting point: Make your way to the Moulin Rouge: 82 Boulevard de Clichy, 75018 Paris. 82 Boulevard de Clichy, 75018 Paris, France
Duration: 4 hours
Cancellation: This activity is non-refundable
“Fantastic venue , entertainment was world class, stage effects dancers, acrobatic performers were outstanding. Highly recommended” – GetYourGuide review
My page on Moulin Rouge tours covers the options that add a Montmartre walk or a Seine cruise. When you are ready, compare every choice on my page of tickets for the Moulin Rouge. The home page lists the other attractions I compare.
Frequently asked questions
When did the Moulin Rouge open?+
Wikipedia gives 6 October 1889, when Charles Zidler and Joseph Oller opened it, originally as the Jardin de Paris, an outdoor cafe-concert. Wikidata also gives 1889 as the opening year.
Who founded the Moulin Rouge?+
Charles Zidler and Joseph Oller, per Wikipedia. Oller also owned the Paris Olympia.
Did the Moulin Rouge burn down?+
Yes. Wikipedia says a fire destroyed the venue on 27 February 1915 during building works. It was followed by a nine-year closure and the Moulin Rouge reopened in 1925.
Is the Moulin Rouge where the can-can began?+
Wikipedia credits the venue with the birth of the modern can-can, a seductive dance introduced by courtesans and later developed into its own revue entertainment. The French cancan remained a staple of the revues.
What happened to the Moulin Rouge windmill?+
Wikipedia reports that the blades of the red windmill on the roof collapsed on 25 April 2024 with no injuries, and that the windmill was restored on 5 July 2024.
