Once a year, the walls of the Comédie-Française are half-opened, revealing a world usually reserved for the initiated. Between velvets, faded portraits and secret corridors, a whole section of Parisian history is revealed to the curious.
The Comédie-Française – where the voices of past centuries still resonate…
Founded in 1680 by Louis XIV, this theatrical institution has lived through more than three centuries of history, bringing to life the works of France’s greatest playwrights. In this mythical theater, every stone, every molding, every dressing room seems to inhabit the memory of another time. Here, Molière has found his eternal home, the greatest actors have left their mark on the stage, and the echoes of their voices still seem to float in the air, suspended above the curtain.
The Salle Richelieu, built in 1786, impresses with its gilding, hidden staircases and historic dressing rooms. Libraries and archives abound with manuscripts, works of art and costumes. Every nook and cranny bears witness to the creations, passions and dramas that have crossed the capital in the oldest surviving national theater. A place of creativity, mystery and discipline, it remains one of the most fascinating sanctuaries of French culture.
Heritage Days – a rare and coveted invitation
To mark the Journées Européennes du Patrimoine, this theatrical jewel is exceptionally opening its doors on September 20 and 21, 2025. Extended lecture tours lasting almost two hours will plunge visitors into the intimacy of the backstage area, revealing the history, the troupe and the secrets of this living monument. Free but highly sought-after, access is by registration only, from 8am on September 4, by e-mail, with a limit of thirty lucky visitors per session. A word of advice: be ready to send in your application as soon as the show opens, as places are snapped up as quickly as the replicas of a great classic.