Circus in Luxembourg

Philip Astley

The birthplace of the modern circus is England, where in Londen in 1769 a former horseman by the name of Philip Astley presented equestrian spectacles in a riding school which he later encircled with tiers of benches to accommodate a larger number of spectators.
Astley, whose "Amphitheatre of Arts" expanded very quickly, founded subsidiaries on the continent, which enjoyed the same success as in England.

Travelling circuses slowly caught on

By the middle of the 19th century several great circuses had formed in the European capitals, and they held their events in specially constructed buildings.
Travelling circuses slowly caught on, assisted by improved means of transportation, and today are businesses of the highest technical level, sometimes employing hundreds of workers, artists and musicians.

Modern circus

Today, circus arts include acrobatics (balancing, juggling, tightrope walking, aerial activities), clown art and animal acts. Circus music with its fanfares and lively tunes creates a pleasant atmosphere, which is imposible to recapture except under the big top.

Stamps of Luxembourg

The stamps of Luxembourg present, in tow deigns by Pit Weyer, a young tightrope dancer and a young juggling clown performing a vitality that invites us to buy tickets for the next performance.
Issue: Luxembourg, 14 May 2002