Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Cirque d'Hiver de Paris, located 110 rue Amelot in the 11th arrondissement, was built in 1852 by architect Jacques Hittorff for Louis Dejean, who already owned the Cirque d'Été. Authorized by the Duke of Morny (half brother of Napoleon III), it replaces an old 18th century reservoir. Its polygonal plan with twenty sides, its wooden frame without intermediate support and its decorations signed Pradier, Duret or Bosio make it an architectural masterpiece. Inaugurated on December 11, 1852 under the name of the Napoleon circus, it hosts from the beginning equestrian shows and concerts.

The circus became a major cultural place under the direction of Jules Pasdeloup, who in 1861 launched the Popular Concerts of classical music, attracting up to 4,000 spectators per session. Hector Berlioz welcomes this initiative in the Journal des débats. After financial difficulties in the 1870s, the circus changed its vocation several times: cinema Pathé under Serge Sandberg (1907), theatre with Firmin Gémier (1920), and then back to the traditional circus in 1923. The Bouglione family acquired it in 1934, giving it its present name and perpetuating the Circassian tradition.

Ranked as a historic monument in 1975, Cirque d'Hiver today alternates between circus shows (the Bouglione winter seasons), various events (musical comedies, political meetings) and hosting international companies such as Cirque du Soleil. Its architecture, 42 metres in diameter and history make it a symbol of the Parisian heritage. Technical innovations (electric lighting in 1907) and artistic innovations (flying trapeze of Jules Léotard in 1859) marked the history of the live show.

The building, privately owned, retains original elements such as the bas-reliefs of Antoine Dantan or the interior paintings. Despite its reduced capacity (from 5,900 to 1,650 places for safety reasons), it remains a must-see place, served by the Daughters du Calvaire and Oberkampf metro stations. His legacy also included film shoots (Trapèze by Carol Reed in 1955) and television shows (The Track to the Stars in the 1950s).

Future

In addition to the traditional circus shows of Cirque d'hiver Bouglione, the hall hosts various shows and political meetings.

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