The blades of the iconic Moulin Rouge, one of the most famous landmarks in Paris, collapsed last night. This just a few months before the French capital hosts the Olympic Games.
The cause of the incident is unknown at this stage and there is still no mention of repairs or a timeline linked to this.
Firefighters did say on Thursday that there was “no risk of a further collapse”.
“Luckily it happened after closing time,” a Moulin Rouge official told AFP.
According to this source, who spoke confidentially to AFP, the cabaret’s technical teams check the mechanisms of the mill every week and have not noticed any problems.
“This is the first time something like this has happened since the cabaret opened its doors for the first time on October 6, 1889.”
Photos and videos shared on social media show the entire blade unit of the mill lying in the street in front of the Moulin Rouge – the distinctive red blades slightly bent.
The incident has raised further concerns about whether Paris is ready to host the Games in July/August, with thousands of people expected to flock here to attend the event.
Moulin Rouge, at the foot of Montmartre hill in the north of Paris, is one of the most visited landmarks in the city. It is known as the birthplace of the can-can-dance.
Moulin Rouge is on most visitors’ bucket lists in Paris – whether to admire it from the outside or attend a show.
The only other serious setback at the “Rooi Meule” was a fire in 1915, which forced Moulin Rouge to close its doors for nine years.
