After having spent a good three months without its blades, the famous red Moulin Rouge windmill in Paris has been made whole again. The landmark has got its charm back, just in time for the Olympics, which will start later this month.
On night in April, the four blades of Moulin Rouge’s windmill fell off, also damaging the facade of the famous cabaret on their way down. Even though it was unclear what caused the accident, luckily, no one was injured and the Moulin Rouge managing director Jean-Victor Clerico promised the blades would return very soon.
At the beginning of July, the four blades have indeed been put back where they belong. Around 500 spectators watched how the landmark was reinstated to its former glory on Friday, 5 July, while 20 can-can dancers celebrated the event. Just in time, as Clerico wished to put them back before the Olympic flame would pass in front of the building on 15 July. However, for the time being, the blades won’t be able to move as the mechanical work needed for that couldn’t be carried out in time.
“The windmill without its wings is a void for Paris, it was just sad”, said Clerico. “The idea was to be ready for the Olympic Games.”
The Moulin Rouge is now looking like its old self again. The world-famous cabaret and its red windmill have been around since 6 October 1889. The current windmill, however, dates from the 1920’s as the original burnt down in 1915. The location welcomes about 600,000 spectators every year and is mainly known for its French can-can performances, inspired by the wild traditional dance from Jacques Offenbach’s early 19th-century operettas.
Over the years, the Moulin Rouge has seen many personalities pass through its doors. In 1890, Edward VII, at that time Prince of Wales, paid a visit to the venue. And just one year later, illustrator and famous Frenchman Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec would start to design the Moulin Rouge’s posters. Since then, Ray Charles, Ella Fitzgerald and even Queen Elisabeth II have visited to the cabaret.
