Salle Richelieu

The Salle Richelieu is a theatre hall within the Palais-Royal and serves as the principal stage of the Comédie-Française with a horseshoe-shaped seating arrangement. It holds about 862 seats and is supported by an iron framework that carries the vaulted auditorium.

Architect Victor Louis designed the hall between 1786 and 1790 as part of the Palais-Royal complex. A devastating fire in 1900 destroyed the building, after which architect Julien Guadet oversaw its reconstruction with considerable effort.

This is home to the Comédie-Française, one of Europe's oldest theatre companies, and carries special meaning for French theatre culture. Productions here follow strict tradition: every new play must be approved by a Reading Committee before it takes the stage.

The hall is active with performances from September through July, so you should check opening times before planning a visit. It is worth noting the location in the 1st arrondissement near the Palais-Royal gardens, as this should guide your approach to the building.

In the public foyer, visitors can see the Fauteuil de Molière, an original armchair from the time of the French playwright who shaped theatre development. The chair creates a direct link to artistic history and connects people to a past era of creation.

Location: 1st arrondissement of Paris

Inception: May 15, 1790

Architects: Victor Louis, Jean-Charles-Alexandre Moreau, Pierre-François-Léonard Fontaine, Julien Guadet, Pierre Prosper Chabrol

Official opening: 1790

Part of: Palais-Royal

Website: http://comedie-francaise.fr

GPS coordinates: 48.86361,2.33583

Latest update: December 8, 2025 19:57