Cirque Amar

Cirque Amar is a French travelling circus brand with roots in Algeria. It was founded in 1924 by Ahmed Ben Amar El Gaïd, whose family had operated a menagerie since the late 19th century. The circus became known for its grand chapiteau, wild animal acts, and international tours across North Africa, Egypt, and Central Europe. Over the decades, the brand changed hands multiple times, including periods under the Bouglione, Bonnel, Rech-Brand, and Falck families. After a hiatus, the Caplot family revived the Amar name in 2020. Today, Cirque Amar continues to tour France, presenting traditional circus performances with acrobats, clowns, and animals, as seen in its 2026 production 'Nous sommes à Thoiry' and upcoming shows in Mâcon.

The history of Cirque Amar begins with Ahmed Ben Amar Ben el Gaïd, born in 1860 in Medjana, north of Bordj Bou Arreridj, Algeria. After starting his career in Algeria, he brought his show to mainland France, featuring Ouled Nails dancers. He dreamed of a large travelling circus with wild animals, dancers, and acrobats. To add wild animals to his show, he met and married Marie-Gabrielle Bonnefoux, who had been running the 'Ménagerie lozérienne' in Mende with her brother since 1887. A few years later, Ahmed presented a lion act with his three sons, Ahmed, Abdelah, and Mustapha, billed as 'the youngest tamers in the world'. Ahmed died in 1914, and Marie and her sons continued the business. The menagerie was transformed into a circus in 1924. By 1926, the 'Grand Cirque Ménagerie Amar frères' was touring North Africa, Egypt, and Central Europe. In April 1964, while in Béziers, three elephants escaped and killed a four-year-old child; the animals were transferred to the Parc zoologique de la Tête d'Or in Lyon. In 1968, Mustapha Amar gave up directing the circus. Jean Roche led it until 1972, then Jacob for a year, until the Bouglione family took over the name at the end of 1973. On 25 December 1984, the Société Nouvelle du Cirque Amar was struck off the INSEE register. Firmin Bouglione and his son Alexandre relaunched it in summer 1974, but prepared for Amar's big return in 1976 with a large chapiteau, new DAF tractors, and a show featuring clown Achille Zavatta and tamer Wolfgang Holzmaïr. The tour was successful but operationally difficult; the Firmin Bouglione-managed circus stopped permanently after a disastrous Moroccan tour in 1982. Jean-Robert Bonnel, a French circus magnate, operated the Amar name from 1986 to 1988 but failed to relaunch it well. In 1991, the Rech-Brand family leased the 'Amar' name from the Bougliones and within a few years restored it to the position of leader of the French circus. After five years, due to success and tensions with the Bougliones, the Falck family also leased the name, forcing the Rech-Brand family to adopt the name Cirque Kino's from 1997, which was short-lived. The Falck family operated the Cirque Amar name from 1996 to 2018. At the end of 2018, facing economic difficulties, the Falck family stopped leasing the 'Amar' name and returned to the road under their own name, Cirque Falck, before turning in 2019 to the heirs of the famous clown Achille Zavatta for the right to use 'Le Nouveau Cirque Zavatta'. In 2020, the 'Amar' adventure continued with the Caplot family, who took up the Cirque Amar name for a national tour with a smaller structure. The 2020 show was titled 'Poésie'. In summer 2021, the illegal installation of Cirque Amar in the Vichy area led to a standoff with administrative and judicial authorities, who cited safety violations; the manager was convicted in July 2023 by the Cusset criminal court to prison and a fine for illegal installation, endangering the lives of others, and theft of water and electricity.

• 2023

  Manager convicted for illegal installation and related offenses.

• 2021

  Illegal installation in Vichy area leads to legal standoff.

• 2020

  Caplot family revives Cirque Amar with a national tour.

• 1996

  Falck family begins operating the Amar name until 2018.

• 1991

  Rech-Brand family leases the Amar name and restores its success.

• 1986

  Jean-Robert Bonnel operates the Amar name until 1988.

• 1982

  Firmin Bouglione's Amar circus stops permanently after Moroccan tour.

• 1976

  Grand return of Amar with a large chapiteau and star performers.

• 1973

  Bouglione family takes over the Amar name.

• 1968

  Mustapha Amar steps down; Jean Roche takes over direction.

• 1964

  Three elephants escape in Béziers, killing a child; animals transferred to Lyon zoo.

• 1926

  Grand Cirque Ménagerie Amar frères tours North Africa, Egypt, and Central Europe.

• 1924

  Circus founded by Ahmed Ben Amar El Gaïd.

Traditional French circus brand offering family-oriented spectacular shows with a blend of classical elegance and popular appeal.

• 2026

  Nous sommes à Thoiry

  New creation presented in 2026.

• 2026

  Cirque en Fête

  Upcoming show in Mâcon from 9 October to 8 November 2026.

• 2020

  Poésie

  2020 show under Caplot family.

1. 1ACCUEIL | AMARcirqueamar.fr
2. 2Cirque Amar - Wikidatawikidata.org
3. 3Cirque Amar - Wikipédiafr.wikipedia.org