19.4.10

Bataclan

The Bataclan dates from 1864 and was originally a “café-concert” where e.g. Edith Piaf performed in the very beginning of her career. Originally it was called “Grand Café Chinois – Théatre Bataclan”; and the exterior architecture was even more China inspired than today. Abandoned during a few decades and losing part of its decoration it was renovated in the 1970’s. Since then it has seen a lot of local and some international stars and groups on the scene. It’s especially a reference when it comes to rock, jazz, blues, world music…
The café is worth a visit already for its decoration.
 

27 comments:

Erin Wallace said...

This is beautiful! How could I have missed this?

Eli said...

thanks Peter - I saw an amazing Tango show there a few years ago and one of my favourite singers is there next week (David Bisbal and I can't go as I am in Belgium!)

Great pictures as ever

Eli
x

Thérèse said...

It looks very quiet during daytime!

Shammickite said...

What a wonderful place! And the great Edith Piaf sang there... it's an important part of Paris history!

Simony said...

Very interesting decor and history.
I imagine it must have felt like a dream to watch Edith Piaf singing there. Paris is just too rich in beauty!

Owen said...

Though I've heard of it I'd never seen a photo of it... very colorful... will have to go take a look; like with so many other places you have presented for us. How about if you come fill in for me at work for a while, and I'll go walk around Paris all day ???
Deal ???
:-)

joanna said...

Peter

I do not know what it looked like before -- however, I like what they did to the roof line it is more in keeping with the surrounding buildings it looks like a beautiful tiered cake.

And I see Eli commented on the played there Tango -- and jazz -- oh my I am hooked.

Beautiful photo shot of the exteriors and interiors. You make it look easy to achieve and it is not.
Joanny

Olivier said...

c'est un des plus beaux cafés de Paris, j'aime beaucoup l'intérieur. et puis il y a la salle de concert a cote et j'en ai vu des concerts la bas

Adam said...

I had a few photos of this place and had a vague idea of doing a post one day, but you've done it better anyway! The concert hall inside is an excellent one, but less interesting visually than the exterior. The paint job on the outside is pretty recent though. I certainly remember it being less colourful about 5 years ago.

SusuPetal said...

The Chinese influence is charming. An interesting building.

Nathalie H.D. said...

Moi qui ne sors jamais à Paris je ne savais pas que la façade du Bataclan était aussi colorée, c'est magnifique et très amusant !

PS - Sans doute influencée par mon week-end, j'ai cru voir une façade mentonnaise quand l'image est apparue - ah les ocres et les roses de Menton, que c'est beau ! Tu nous as manqué, à Jilly et à moi... la prochaine fois bientot j'espère !

Rakesh Vanamali said...

Wow! That cafe surely is very interesting!

Whitney Smith said...

have you seen the flim La Vie En Rose? I wonder if they did any of their filming here? Simply marvelous...now I must visit!

Starman said...

I walked, and rode, past the Bataclan dozens of times before I noticed it was there.

amatamari© said...

I really like the exterior but even more those dark wood, shiny, yellow ocher walls ...Ah, I wish come here
to listen music!
:-)
Magnificent post, as always!

Parisbreakfasts said...

Thank you for showing me Bataclan Peter.
Or was that the Billiards building..mon dieu...Mondays

Catherine said...

wonderful architecture - love this building

Marie-Noyale said...

Quand nous etions a Paris mon fils aine faisait partie de
"La Compagnie des Sales Gosses"
et s'y etait produit aussi!!
Un bel endroit.

Virginia said...

Oh I have a plan. Owen and I will join you here Peter! What a wonderful place for us to gather. I especially love the charming bar seats !
V

Kate said...

A delightful building. Love the colours and the trim.

claude said...

J'ai toujours entendu parler de cet endroit mais je ne l'avais jamais vu. Effectivement il a un bon air chinois. Bien ta vieille photo sur le Grand Café Chinois.

hpy said...

Salut!

BLOGitse said...

oh yes, my kind of place!

ps.
had my first French lesson yesterday... :)

BLOGitse

Cheryl said...

Never thought I'd say this but those barstools are gorgeous! And Bataclan, especially that cafe, looks like another place to put on my Paris list.

Cezar and Léia said...

That Café is charming but seeing your pictures I see only men, maybe it's normal.
hugs
Léia

Trotter said...

The Bataclan is a famous cabaret in Jorge Amado's book «Gabriela, Cravo e Canela»; most probably borrowed from this one... ;)

Catherine said...

Excellente dénomination pour une salle de concert......
Je propose que tous ceux à qui cette salle plait se joignent à toi, Owen et Virginia pour un concert privé au Bataclan ! "Voilà une idée qu'elle est bonne !"