The Parisian landscape suffered an unexpected alteration when the red windmill on the Moulin Rouge lost its sails in the early hours.
Staff at the capital’s most famous cabaret, which featured in Baz Luhrmann’s film of the same name starring Nicole Kidman, were at a loss to explain why the sails fell off during a windless night. “It’s a bit of an enigma,” said Jean-Victor Clerico, the managing director, who ruled out vandalism or other forms of foul play. He said the sails had been changed in 2000 and underwent regular inspections that had never found a problem.
No one was injured but Parisians expressed shock at the sight of the 135-year-old “bastion of pleasure” without its distinctive sails.
Staff were at a loss to explain why the sails fell off during a windless night
BENOIT TESSIER/REUTERS
Anne Hidalgo, the mayor of Paris,
