Oldest permanent circus still in operation

The oldest permanent circus building is Cirque d'Hiver, which opened in Paris, France, on 11 December 1852. Built by the celebrated architect Jacques Ignace Hittorf for circus entrepreneur Louis Dejean, it was inaugurated as “Cirque Napoléon” The world’s oldest circus building is still in use and is therefore the world’s oldest circus.

Its inauguration by French Emperor Napoléon III was the new Emperor’s first public event of his reign, which had begun just nine days before. Renamed Cirque d’Hiver in 1873, the building was acquired by the Bouglione circus family in 1934, and has remained under their management ever since. Its façade has been recently restored to its original splendor.