World’s oldest indoor circus undergoing a major makeover

The French government has pledged to restore the historic Cirque d’Hiver

Cirque d’Hiver has been an important Parisian institution since 1852 (Cirque d’Hiver Bouglione de Paris – Dominique Secher)

The world’s oldest indoor circus is undergoing a major renovation project to restore the venue to its historic splendour.

Cirque d’Hiver was opened in 1852 by Napoleon III and is situated in Paris’s 11th arrondissement.

Twenty large murals, which depict historical scenes on the interior walls of the performance ring, will be restored. They have been covered up since the 1950s by wood panelling.

The murals show daring equestrian feats, as traditional performances included horses and acrobatics – elements that remain to this day.

The paintings were discovered behind wood panelling (Cirque d'Hiver)

“We removed the panels last week to check that the paintings are still there. There’s some water damage, but they are recoverable, which is a huge relief,” Stéphane Millet, the architect supervising the project, told the Times.

“Their artistic and cultural value had been underestimated, but they form a spectacular historical panorama, retracing the history of France from ancient times,” said Mr Millet.

“The murals show the Gauls fighting the Romans. The creators of Asterix weren’t the first to realise the importance of that part of our national narrative. These paintings tell us a lot about how the French viewed themselves in the 19th century.”

Other renovations include the refurbishment of windows that were previously covered by thick curtains. The seats and carpets will also be revamped.

The seats and carpets will also undergo refurbishment (Cirque d'Hiver)

The stone exterior, which depicts a circus tent, was renovated just under 20 years ago. The interior of the historical venue will undergo changes over a number of years to minimise disruption to performances.

Fabrice Bing, head of production at Cirque d’Hiver, told The Independent: “We are all in love with this place and are happy to work here and be employed at the Cirque d'Hiver. Working at the Cirque d'Hiver is, in a way, working for history.

“Restoring the beauty of the lost decor is a real source of pride for us. We are working for the future while respecting the past. We are passionate about our heritage.”

He added that the renovations were also essential for their customers, and hopes to make the venue more comfortable.

“A little more legroom and better ventilation are the minimum that spectators expect today in the 21st century,” he said. “We want to give our customers the most wonderful experience in the most beautiful circus in the world, and that includes their comfort in addition to beauty.

Mr Bing said the renovations will also include improved accessibility. “We are committed to making our space as open to everyone as possible,” he said.

Cirque d’Hiver is a prominent institution in circus history. The first-ever flying trapeze act was performed at the theatre in 1859 by Jules Léotard, the man after whom the leotard was named due to his donning of a skin-tight one-piece in his performances.

It is expected that the project will cost several million euros, although the exact figure has not been made public. The culture ministry has agreed to finance the project alongside the owners, the Bouglione family.

The use of public money for the project has been seen as controversial due to France’s deepening deficit. In response, Mr Millet told the Times: “This is a site of huge historical significance.

“The French are extremely attached to their cultural heritage and the Cirque d’Hiver has become a symbol of 19th-century Paris.”

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