La Nouvelle Athènes
| Company type | Café |
|---|---|
| Industry | Hospitality |
| Founded | 19th century |
| Headquarters | Paris , France |
Area served | Paris, France |
| Products | Food and beverages |
The Nouvelle Athènes, also known as the Café de la Nouvelle-Athènes, was a renowned café situated at 66 Rue Pigalle within the Place Pigalle district of , Paris, France. This establishment served as a significant gathering spot for notable painters such as Henri Matisse, Vincent van Gogh, and Edgar Degas, playing a pivotal role in the creation of many Impressionist masterpieces.
History
In 1874, this café became the venue where artists convened to organize the inaugural Impressionism exhibition. During this period, Degas created L'Absinthe, portraying the model Ellen Andrée directly at the location. The café also attracted composer Erik Satie, who encountered a young Maurice Ravel there.
After closure
During the 1940s, the café was transformed into the Sphynx, a striptease venue frequented by both Nazi soldiers and subsequently by Free French resistance members. Between the 1960s and 1990s, it operated under the name New Moon, evolving from a lesbian cabaret into a leading French rock music venue, hosting groups such as Mano Negra, Noir Désir, and Les Wampas.
The original structure was destroyed in a fire in 2004 and later torn down.
See also
- List of strip clubs
- Musée de la Vie romantique, Hôtel Scheffer-Renan, Paris
- Le Rat Mort
