La Boule Noire, Concert hall in Montmartre, France
La Boule Noire is a concert hall located on Boulevard de Rochechouart in Paris's 18th arrondissement with room for around 200 people. The space is set up as an indoor venue designed for live musical performances across various genres.
Founded in 1822 as a goguette in the village of Montmartre by a woman nicknamed Belle-en-Cuisse, the venue was later taken over by Bécuzet, who added a lit glass ball as a sign. It became a bal where the quadrille des Lanciers was launched and Rigolboche began. The ballroom was demolished in 1887 to build La Cigale, while La Boule Noire continued as a cabaret, cinema in the 1920s, and concert hall; La Cigale has managed it since 1990.
The name comes from the glass ball that topped Bécuzet's portico: white at first, it turned black with dirt and gave the hall its name. The Lanciers quadrille was launched in the ballroom here, and the performer Rigolboche began her career on this site. Orelsan played his first concert hall here, as recalled in the 2021 documentary Montre jamais ça à personne.
The hall sits at 120 boulevard Marguerite-de-Rochechouart, in the same building as La Cigale, whose management has run it since 1990. The room holds 200 people and keeps a 1970s decor; its narrow layout puts the audience close to the stage. Entry is to the right of the La Cigale entrance.
The name comes from a glass ball that topped the entrance portico built by Bécuzet: white at first, it turned black with dirt and gave the venue its name. The original portico later became the entrance to La Cigale. La Boule Noire was also the first venue where Orelsan performed, as shown in the 2021 documentary Montre jamais ça à personne.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 93,465 contributors worldwide.
