Where is the red light district in Paris?

Red Light District in Paris

What? Yup, as I was raised in France, people ask me where is the Red Light District in Paris – I have been there, but I have not conducted any business lol Not that kind of guy.

So here is the answer, it’s in the Quartier Pigalle, which is between the 9th and 18th arrondissement, the north side of the city. There is a convenient subway station. Pigalle is not a safe place for kids, and even I wouldn’t go there after dark – with prostitution come gangs, drugs, and many other criminal activities.

As in many countries, prostitution is illegal in France, even though it not has always been the case.

During the XIV^th century  (1301 – 1400), prostitution in Paris was legal and organized by the kingdom – the owners were the middle-class of the time (bourgeois) and … well, the church. These “tenants” paid taxes to the kingdom.

As the shades were drawn, these “houses” were called “Maison Close” or “Closed Houses.” A red lantern was lit during open hours – that’s why since the Middle Ages it’s called “Red Light.” 🙂

I see you there rolling your eyes thinking “dirty French” but you are all wrong 🙂 First I’m Belgian descent then it’s an international issue.

The King’s prostitution ring (if I may say) was legal, organized meaning that the “Women” were part of society, protected and recognized. For example, these “Madames de la Nuit” (Madams of the Night) had:

• Freedom of choice to where to do their work.
• Work time well-identified – from de 10 AM to  10 PM Monday to Saturday – Most of the people at that time were working over 12 hours a day.
• Age limit – the fun part is that after the age of 50, Women had to retire – young women were banned from prostitution.
• No work on Sunday and religious holidays to allow the Women to go to church.
• Strict protection from “clients” – abuses were severely punished.
• …

Yes, prostitution was a job that was more regulated than many other jobs – children as young as 7 could be found as servants in homes, stores, and manufacturing shops but women had to be old enough to do this kind of work.

During the 1600s, religion and morals kicked in, making prostitution as well as adultery and debauchery illegal. The not-fun part, adultery, and debauchery were regarded as women’s sins, not men’s ones… Being seen smoking or drinking was debauchery.

In the 1700s, King Louis XV realized that you can’t stop prostitution; he reopened the “Maison Close” and red light district under the control of the police. Yet, the prohibitionists continued to lobby until Louis XVI who abolished it.

The French Revolution (1789 – 1793) tolerated it by only making prostitution on the street illegal. Houses reopened under police control.

The prostitutes had to wait until 1802 to be officially recognized again. Napoleon regularized the “Femme de Plaisir” (Women of Pleasure) by ordering registration with the cities, by being a member of a “House” (not on the street), by receiving a monthly doctor visit, and by paying taxes, etc.

In the 1800s, clandestine prostitution is illegal – the law notes that street prostitutes do not pay taxes – meaning, it was a tax problem and not a moral one 🙂

It ran like this until the 1946 law called “Marthe Richard” went into force. Marthe Richard was not a legislator. She was a Paris city council member and an ex-prostitute. The reason for the law? Protection of Women? No… the idea was that during WWII German’s occupation, the “Houses” of the red light district welcomed German Soldiers and Nazis – they were the only ones who could afford it. A total of 1,400 “House” were closed, sending over 40,000 “Women” on the street with no protection, no medical or emotional support.

Legislators against the closure of the “Houses” claimed it would harm the rebuilding of the city. What? Yes, the “Houses” tax rate was between 50% to 60% depending on the neighborhood. Yup, these good people thought to rebuild Paris with prostitution money 🙂

Since that time it’s a constant battle between “Women”, the police and the legislators – the “Women” want:

• Reconnaissance of their status
• Medical coverage
• End of police repression
• Union organization
• …

When you look at it, they want their “profession” to be officially recognized. This will allow them to get loans, mortgages, bank accounts, IDs, medical insurance, retirement.

Unfortunately, France, Europe, and the world are going in a totally different direction.

The big problem is that today, the Red Light District in Paris is everywhere. Mostly on the internet, where over 120 websites are offering these “services,” in specialty SPAs, in shady hotels and in the woods of Paris – I recommend reading the photo article by Olga Osipova.

Who are the prostitutes? According to official numbers, there are 7,000 in Paris – according to other sources, these 7,000 are minors.

They come from Africa, Asia, South America, Eastern countries, poor families, broken families, many are single mothers, transgenders, etc.

We dare calling ourselves civilized, but the issue of prostitution is taboo, making these human beings conditions worse than pre-historical.

Prostitutes are victims of:

• Pimps
• Clients
• Law enforcement
• Drug dealers
• Criminals
• …

We make them victims by turning a blind eye.

Line of prostitutes van near a famous woods in Paris

Sex trafficking from Africa ends in Paris