Le Chabanais

The current residential building at 12 Rue Chabanais where the brothel was located.

The Le Chabanais , named after its address on the Rue Chabanais 12 in the 2nd district, near the Louvre , was a famous brothel in Paris .

It was founded in 1878 by a Madame Kelly , a native of Ireland. According to reports, later to Edward VII. The Le Chabanais have preferred, as it was known for its extravagant design. His Japanese Room won during the Paris World Exposition in 1900 even a price. One attraction was a luxurious bathroom with a huge copper bathtub in Victorian style with an attached head, half swan and half woman - she was particularly admired on tours of the establishment. Edward, then Prince of Wales , is said to have filled this tub with champagne, bathed his favorite whores in it and then drank the contents with his friends. At his request, a bizarre erotic chair was specially made for him, which should make mutual oral sex with several people possible. It resembles a modern gynecological chair and is now in the Le Musée de l'Erotisme in Paris. Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec immediately gave the house as a residential address and paid his rent with art. The brothel owned 16 drawings by the artist, which are now owned by private collectors.

After the Second World War and the occupation of Paris by German troops, the brothels and public prostitution no longer fit into the image of the Paris of the Resistance . So in 1946 with the loi Marthe Richard , the law No. 46658 passed on April 13, 1946 by an alliance of Christian Democrats ( MRP ) and communists , all brothels were closed. The bill had been submitted by Paris city councilor and former street prostitute Marthe Richard . The Le Chabanais was sold and converted into a residence.