Right in the heart of Boulevard de Clichy, while Parisians come here to shop, it’s worth noting that number 53 once housed a very different establishment! During the Belle Époque, you had to pass between the jaws of a giant demon to enter the cabaret L’Enfer! With its menacing eyes and figures surrounded by flames, it was one of the most extravagant storefronts in Paris.
Conceived in the late 19th century by Antonin Alexander, an entrepreneur in the entertainment industry, the venue was born from a rather unusual idea: to set up two cabarets side by side, representing heaven and hell. A few decades later, in 1950, the cabaret disappeared to make way for the neighboring Monoprix, which had purchased the buildings to expand its operations.
One of the capital’s most unusual cabarets
In the heyday of cabarets, the show began right on the sidewalk: a doorman would call out to passersby to convince them to step through the monster’s impressive maw. Inside, decorations featuring flames and cauldrons, along with characters dressed as devils or undertakers, created a somewhat eerie atmosphere. And on stage, audiences were treated to magic and illusion shows brimming with fantasy.
Right next door, then, was the “Cabaret du Ciel,” whose concept was based entirely on the opposite. Behind a facade inspired by the Middle Ages, one would instead find angels, clouds, and heavenly songs. Legend has it that they even served blessed wine there, directly from large chalices. The venues, owned by the same proprietor, were among the few in Paris to offer something so unusual.
Unfortunately, Parisians’ interest in the double cabaret wasn’t enough to save it. After World War II, Le Ciel et l’Enfer faced serious financial difficulties that ultimately led to its acquisition by Monoprix. Unfortunately, none of the original decor was preserved, and where Belle Époque night owls once chose between heaven and hell, passersby now find the aisles of a supermarket.