Windmill blades fall off the Moulin Rouge overnight

The windmill blades of the Moulin Rouge, the most famous cabaret club in Paris, have fallen off.

The red blades, part of the windmill mounted on the roof of the iconic Paris building, fell to the ground overnight in the early hours of Thursday.

“The Moulin Rouge, in 135 years of history, has experienced many adventures but it is true that for the wings, this is the first time that this has happened,” general manager Jean-Victor Clerico said.

“A little before 2am, the wings of the windmill gave way, fell on the boulevard and fortunately at this time the boulevard was empty of passers-by.”

There were no reports of injuries. The first three letters of the club’s name, part of the large, neon sign at the front, were also missing on Thursday.

A spokesperson for the Moulin Rouge said the theatre would investigate the cause of the incident with experts and insurers. Mr Clerico said whatever the cause it was not intentional.

Workers were seen lifting the red sails off the ground on Thursday.

The Moulin Rouge, founded in 1889, is best known as the birthplace of the modern form of the can-can dance.

Modern audiences for its dance shows are largely made up of tourist groups.

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Among the attractions when it opened in Place Blanche in Montmartre were a big model of an elephant and donkey rides.

“It [had a] huge dance floor, mirrors everywhere, and galleries that were the last word in elegance”, the venue’s website said.

In 2001, a musical film set in the club, starring Nicole Kidman and Ewan McGregor, directed by Baz Luhrmann, won two Oscars, matching the achievement of John Huston’s 1952 original.