Caveau de la Huchette Jazz Club in Paris
Opened just after World War II in a historical building, this Jazz club is still running today within a medieval cellar and provides a wide variety of different performers, with many famous names having played here, and after the show, the music continues with jazz swing, rock and soul until the early hours.
A bit of history
The historical building that has been home to the Caveau de la Huchette for well over 60 years was originally a meeting place for Templars back in the mid 1500s, and in the 1770s it was transformed into a secret Masonic lodge.
There are two main rooms or cells below that served as a meeting place and there were also secret underground passages that led to different areas, but the upper room was converted into a tavern.
Yet the discussions that took place with the outcome often being an execution for the unsuspecting victim, the place became known as the Vault of Terror, and in the lowest room of the building there is still a deep well which was used for the removal of evidence of crimes that had been committed.
Many years later it became known as the Theatre of Song and then in 1946 it became the Jazz Club, Le Caveau de la Huchette, and since 1970 this legendary club in Paris has been run by Dany Doriz.
About Caveau de la Huchette Jazz Club
The room above is the bar area of the caveau de la Huchette, however, it is when you go down to the cellars that you can still discover the unique heritage and the part the building has played in the history of Paris.
These lower rooms and cellars have been authentically preserved in their original state, which means that it has also been listed as a historical monument in Paris as well, and adorning the walls you can discover ancient weapons including swords and muskets, plus there is even a chastity belt and other unusual items on display.
Over the years, there have been many famous Jazz musicians that have played at Le Caveau de la Huchiette including Lionel Hampton, Count Basie, Scott Hamilton, Dany Doritz who now runs the venue, and many, many more.
And with its historical aspects, it has also been featured in different films over the years, but these have happened without interruption and in keeping with the tradition of the Jazz venue, as they would still hold a concert every evening, followed by music and dancing until the early hours. And you often find people dressed in the period attire of the original jazz and swing era, which seems to make this place even more authentic and a fun evening.
Visiting Caveau de la Huchette Jazz Club in Paris
You will find the Caveau de la Huchette open every evening from around 9pm, with most of the shows starting at around 10.30pm, yet they do not close until the early hours of the morning, which is usually about 2am, however, on a Friday and Saturday, they tend to be open until around 5am.
There is an entrance fee, which does vary according to the performance and also what day of the week you decide to visit this music venue, as it seems that the weekends tend to be a little more.
This Jazz club in Paris is located within the 5th Arrondissement in the historical Latin Quarter on the left bank of the River Seine and the nearest Metro stations are either the Saint-Michel stop or the Cluny - La Sorbonne stop. But, if you are travelling on the RER, then you would need the Saint-Michel - Notre-Dame stop via lines B or C, yet the Batobus water bus also has a dock close by as well.
