Caveau de la Huchette

Caveau De La Huchette in Paris is known both for its jazz and its unique location, in a series of underground caves that have quite a history. Secret societies were said to meet there, but today the caves are used for jazz performances, making this one of the most unique musical venues in the city.

History

Caveau De La Huchette is a well-known Paris jazz club that is very popular on the Paris nightclub scene. Although the caves beneath the club date back to the 16th century, it began its jazz club incarnation in 1946. The building, with its downstairs area, has a very intriguing design that evokes a labyrinth or cellar. Rumor claims it was once occupied by secret societies like the Rosicrucians, the Templers, and people with links to Freemasonry, who held their meetings there. Later, during the French Revolution, trials were said to be held in the caves during the Reign of Terror, and executions may even have been performed there. Because a large part of the club located underground in this historic building, in the linked series of caves, it is often referred to as “the famous jazz cellar” for the type of music it features.

The building's interesting design and intriguing history makes it popular in French movies, and it has been featured in several films like Marcel Carné's “Les Tricheurs.” However, its main use is as a jazz music venue. Some of the musicians who have played at Caveau De La Huchette include Count Basic, Lionel Hampton, and Art Blakey. Popular French jazz musicians such as Claude Bolling and Claude Luter have also performed there.

Visting the Club

Caveau De La Huchette's famous building is located at 5 Rue de la Huchette in Paris and is open every evening at 9 p.m., with the music beginning about an hour later. You can drive or take the Paris Metro to Saint-Michel.Reservations are not accepted, so arrive early to stake out a good spot to watch the evening's performers. Live jazz bands perform every night, with musicians rotating regularly. You can find a list of upcoming performers on the club's website. The “jazz cellar” follows the tradition of Saint-Germain des Prés jazz and maintains an atmosphere reminiscent of the Cotton Club in the United States during the 1940s.

Although jazz rules at the club, you may occasionally find music in a different genre. For example, the musicians sometimes play rock, swing, disco, rhythm and blues, and soul.

There are many hotels and restaurants in the vicinity of the club. For example, you can find vegetarian cuisine at the nearby Le Grenier de Notre Dame, and Chez Clément Saint Michel offers traditional French cuisine. The Cathedrale Notre Dame de Paris is very close to Caveau De La Huchette if you plan to do some sightseeing before the show. You can see the cathedral and enjoy a meal on your way to the jazz club.

Atmosphere

The club is located in the Latin Quarter of Paris, and its décor fits its history. The walls have swords, muskets, and other old-time weaponry, as well as other period items like a chastity belt. Because the cellar is formed from a series of caves, the downstairs stage is located in a rather tight area, without air conditioning. It can very very warm and somewhat claustrophobic-feeling, especially for people who are not used to the unique setup. There is dance floor, but it's very small, so dancing is nearly impossible on the most crowded nights. If you are lucky, you may see some of the club regulars put on an impromptu dance show with amazing moves.

Although Caveau De La Huchette draws a local crowd, it is very welcoming to tourists. You can take a break upstairs at the bar if you start to feel too closed-in downstairs in the caves. The upstairs area is more airy, comfortable, and quiet.

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