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The next stop is the Olympia Variety Theatre, which was first
opened in 1983 by the founder of the Moulin Rouge
and although at one point was turned into a cinema, it became a music hall again in the
1950's.
However, by 1960 it was in serious financial difficulties, but Edith Piaf agreed to
perform there for four months, which started in the January of 1961 and through the full
houses, this saved the theatre from being closed. And today, the Olympia is a Paris landmark that has played host to some of the most
famous performers from all over the World.
The next step is actually going back in time to when Edith was in her 20's where she used
to sing in the streets of Belleville, just to get enough money for her dinner and is
located in the Montmartre area of Paris.
If you get to the Place des Abbesses, you will see a Metro station that still has an
original glass canopy, then take the Passage des Abbesses, which takes you to the Rue
Androuet that is a very typical little street in Montmartre where Edith used to
stroll.
Still in the Montmartre area, which is where Edith spent many years of her life singing in
cabaret venues and on the streets to earn a living, you can get to experience the true old
fashioned Paris with its steep streets, quaint old houses and many, many steps. One
such street that is typical of this area is called Rue Drevet, which was named after the
Pierre Drevet who produced portraits for people such as King Louis XIV.
When on your journey of exploration through Paris on the La Vie en Rose film trail and
Edith Piaf, you will then be directed to the cemetery called Cimeti?re du P?re Lachaise, which was where
Edith Piaf was laid to rest on 11th October 1963.
The Archbishop of Paris at the time forbade a Mass, yet there were still around forty
thousand fans that bombarded her ceremony at the Pere Lachaise Cemetary and brought the
traffic around Paris to a standstill,
In fact this cemetery is the most famous and frequently visited cemetery in Paris and set
in a beautiful landscaped park containing around 70,000 tombs, it has over two million
visitors each year.
The last stop for the actual Paris Film Trail is a
square at the intersection of Rue du Capitaine Ferber and Rue Belgrand, which was named
Place Edith Piaf in her honour. Then forty years after her death, the square was
refurbished and officially inaugurated with a bronze statue which was unveiled by the
Mayor of Paris.
However, close to the cemetery in the 11th arrondissement, there is a private museum
called the Mus?e Edith Piaf, which is
dedicated to the memory of this wonderful performer and you can get to see memorabilia,
personal effects, etc, whilst listening to her music.
This very small Paris museum in a private residence is
only open by prior appointment on a Monday to Thursday and after managing to find your way
there, when you arrive you will see a plaque on the outside of the building that says 'Les
Amis de Edith Piaf'.
So providing you plan your holiday in Paris well in advance, this is a very fitting end to
the Le Vie en Rose Edith Piaf Film Trail and will provide an even greater insight into her
life.
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