Secrets and techniques of Paris Correspondent Anne Daignault writes about visiting one of many metropolis’s extra colourful hidden secrets and techniques…
Few guests to Paris will ever get to see the erotic mosaic murals at Aux Belles Poules, a former brothel relationship again to the Belle Epoque. Ever since I first noticed them 5 years in the past on a personal go to with Heather, I’ve been wanting to return to study extra about this completely preserved reminder of the town’s debauched previous.
As I strolled down the Rue Saint-Denis in direction of Rue Blondel within the 2nd arrondissement, I handed a number of girls—each younger and middle-aged—standing alongside the buildings, ready for patrons. It was a poignant reminder that whereas brothels and arranged prostitution had been outlawed in 1946, unbiased work on this commerce stays authorized in France.
Upon arriving at 32 Rue Blondel, I used to be warmly greeted by Caroline Senot, the spirited proprietor and director of Aux Belles Poules. Stepping inside, guests are instantly surrounded by attractive mosaic murals adorning the partitions with astounding depictions of bare girls, satyrs, and, fairly fittingly, hens (since “poule” is French slang for prostitute). At all times a sucker for a very good story, I needed to know the historical past of this maison shut. Caroline’s enthusiasm is contagious; she has a real ardour for preserving and sharing the historical past of this distinctive Parisian heritage.
A Hidden Treasure
Its very discovery is a narrative unto itself, like one among an archeologist unearthing work inside an historical Egyptian tomb. It begins in 2011 when Caroline and her father had been on the lookout for workplace area for his or her know-how enterprise within the neighborhood that had grow to be generally known as “Silicon Sentier” for the entire IT startups headquartered there. The big area on the bottom ground of a nondescript constructing was coated with the tasteless picket paneling well-liked within the 1970’s. A clause within the deed casually talked about “a number of damaged tiles,” which they thought little of on the time. They signed the deed with out hesitation.
However as renovations started and the paneling was eliminated, they uncovered the breathtaking mosaics that had been hid for many years. You’ll be able to think about their shock and surprise because the room revealed its secret previous as a brothel. There have been a number of cracked tiles, however in any other case the murals and mirrors — together with those found underneath the Nineteen Seventies drop ceiling — had been nearly utterly intact. Digging into the constructing’s historical past, they quickly realized that Aux Belles Poules was one among the most well-known brothels throughout the Années Folles of the Nineteen Twenties interwar interval, the place Parisian excessive society got here to bask in festivities with “women of enjoyment” and free-flowing Champagne. At its peak, the brothel housed as much as 31 girls unfold throughout the twenty or so rooms on the higher flooring (these now not exist). Aux Belles Poules was lastly shuttered in 1948 after the passage of the Marthe Richard Regulation that mandated the closure of all brothels.
Her father suggested warning, or a minimum of calm till they might overview the scenario, however Caroline knew precisely what she needed to do. She satisfied her father to protect and totally restore the Artwork Deco mosaics, and has efficiently reworked this former maison shut into a fascinating reception venue for receptions, company gatherings, dinner reveals with burlesque dancers, and after-work Champagne events. Their commercial invitations company to “Plongez dans le décor d’une ancienne maison shut,” (Immerse your self within the decor of a historic brothel), with photos of girls reclining on blue velvet sofas in 1920’s lingerie.
To not Glamorize Prostitution
For people, she hosts common guided excursions (in French) to share her in depth data of the historical past of prostitution and Parisian brothels particularly. Throughout these excursions, she contrasts the erotic fantasy of the brothels with the grim actuality of the lives of girls working in them. “I mortgage my place to individuals to find the sweetness which impressed the creativeness and created a fantasy concerning the maisons closes,” she explains to me. Usually owned by members of organized crime, the time period maisons closes actually means “closed homes” as a result of the ladies had been usually prevented from coming and going at will. She says the creation of a fantasy to hide the exploitation of girls is a crucial piece of our historical past that shouldn’t be forgotten. The murals in all probability don’t delude right this moment’s viewers, however are worthy of a go to for his or her magnificence and rarity: Aux Belles Poules is the one Parisian brothel whose décor has been preserved nearly fully intact, in contrast to its well-known opponents Le Sphinx, Le Chabanais, and the One Two Two.
Sensible Data
Aux Belles Poules
32 rue Blondel, 2nd
Tel +33 1 40 15 95 66
Easy “Lecture-Excursions” are twice month-to-month excursions (Saturdays at 5pm, subsequent one is October twenty sixth) that may be reserved on-line for €14.
The “Spectacle-Lecture-Excursions” with actresses in Années Folles interval costumes, are a minimum of as soon as monthly (subsequent one is October sixteenth at 7:30pm) and price €25/particular person, or €29 with a coupe de Champagne.
All public excursions are in French, which is why most English-speaking vacationers won’t ever see this wonderful area. You might simply be part of a tour “simply to look” and take photographs, however remember the fact that it’s only one massive room, so that you’ll have seen every part inside a couple of minutes. Caroline does communicate English, so if you wish to set up a personal group tour in English, don’t hesitate to contact her straight for a quote.
PS. Caroline provided me the job of “Madame of the Brothel” for one evening. Do you suppose I ought to settle for? 😉