Classical · Architecture

Élysée Montmartre

Paris

Élysée Montmartre is a performance hall located at 72 boulevard Marguerite-de-Rochechouart in Montmartre, Paris. It was inaugurated in 1807, when it opened as a ballroom. The venue became associated with a wide range of cultural activities, including costume balls, theatre performances, concerts, and later sporting events.

Élysée Montmartre was the site where a new dance style, described as quadrille naturaliste or cancan, was practiced. It housed three buildings and a large garden, and its facade was described by Émile Zola in L'Assommoir. The venue also inspired artists of the Butte, including Toulouse-Lautrec, and served as a setting for Maupassant's Masque. In 1879, it hosted the premiere of L'Assommoir.

After an electrical fire in 1900, the interior received modern-style and rococo decorations. The venue later hosted boxing and wrestling matches from 1948, striptease shows, and performances by artists including Jacques Higelin, Patti Smith, Diane Dufresne, and Alain Souchon. It closed in 2011 due to a fire and later reopened after that closure.

Map showing the location of Élysée Montmartre in Paris
Location of Élysée Montmartre in Paris

Nearby Objects

History of the Performance Hall

Intro is a performance hall located at 72 boulevard Marguerite-de-Rochechouart in Montmartre, Paris. It was inaugurated in 1807 and later closed in 2011 because of a fire. After this fire-related closure, the hall reopened. These events form the main outlines of its recorded history.

Ballroom, Stage, and Artistic Landmark

Elysée-Montmartre opened as a ballroom in 1807 and became associated with new forms of social and artistic performance. It was the place where the dance style known as quadrille naturaliste, or cancan, was practiced. The venue consisted of three buildings and a large garden, giving it a distinctive setting within Montmartre. Its facade was described by Emile Zola in L'Assommoir, showing that the building itself had literary as well as social visibility. Elysee-Montmartre also served as a reference point for other Parisian entertainment spaces: Joseph Oller and Charles Zidler engaged artists from there for the opening of the Moulin-Rouge. It inspired painters and other artists of the Butte, including Toulouse-Lautrec, and was used as decor for Maupassant's Masque. In 1879, it hosted the premiere of L'Assommoir and later costume balls such as the Bal des Quat'z'Arts.

From Dance Hall to Modern Concert Venue

The Elyslee Montmartre evolved through a series of changes in both decor and programming. In 1900, an electrical fire damaged the venue and led to modern style and rococo decorations. The building later hosted a wide range of performances and events, reflecting shifts in public use. Olivier Metra conducted an orchestra of 40 musicians there, and from 1948 the venue also presented boxing and wrestling matches. Striptease shows were staged, followed by theatrical productions such as Rabelais with music by Michel Polnareff in 1968, Jarry sur la butte with music by Michel Legrand in 1969, and Oh! Calcutta! directed by Philippe Khorsand from 1971 to 1975. From 1976, it became known for concerts by artists including Jacques Higelin, Patti Smith, Diane Dufresne, and Alain Souchon, and in 1983 it hosted a Francis Lopez operetta with Georges Guetary.

In 1989, Garance Productions took over the venue and expanded its musical profile to include indie rock, electro, metal, rap, and reggae. From 1995, Le Bal de l'Elysee-Montmartre took place biweekly with the Grand Orchestre de l'Elysee-Montmartre. Between 1998 and 2009, Congo artists such as Werrason, JB Mpiana, Koffi Olomide, Ferre Gola, and Fally Ipupa performed there, alongside other notable artists including David Bowie, Bon Jovi, Katy Perry, Bonnie Tyler, Avril Lavigne, and Skid Row.

Another electrical fire began around 8 a.m. and damaged the walls and roof, though the facade remained intact. The venue then closed for five years and underwent two years of renovation costing 8 million euros before reopening with an -M- concert.