The bal Mabille, Avenue Montaigne

The Bal Mabille, Avenue Montaigne

Avenue Montaigne was originally called the allée des Veuves (widows' alley) because women in mourning gathered there, but the street has changed much since those days of the early 18th century.

The current name comes from Michel de Montaigne, a writer of the French Renaissance.

In the nineteenth century, the street earned some renown for its sparkling and colourful Mabille balls on Saturday nights. The bal Mabille was created by Mr Mabille, a dance teacher, it was first for his students.

Then Mabille's sons decided to change hours and days, introduced 3 000 gas lights, trees, flowers, mirrors and it became really famous :

Going to the Jardin Mabille was about seeing and being seen.

Some said that the dance "french can-can" was invented in the bal Mabille, it was also an inspiration for painters.

source: wikipedia, paris