The Odéon Theater

The Odéon theatre, a royal and European stage

The Paris audio-guided tour leads you, by Rue Racine, to the Odéon theatre. Created in 1782 under the name Théâtre-Français, it was built to house the Comédie-Française troupe and inaugurated by Queen Marie-Antoinette on 9 April of the same year.

The triumph of the Marriage of Figaro

A few years after its inauguration, the theatre saw the triumph of Beaumarchais's Marriage of Figaro. The author himself marvelled at this success, declaring: there is something madder than my play, it is its success. A model of eighteenth-century architecture, the Odéon has become, since 1990, the national Odéon-Théâtre de l'Europe.

What there is to see

The neoclassical building, with its columned façade and its peristyle, dominates Place de l'Odéon, designed as a setting for the theatre. The hall hosts a programme focused on contemporary European theatre. It is one of the great historic theatres of Paris, in the heart of an elegant district of the Left Bank.

Practical information

The Odéon theatre is on Place de l'Odéon, in the 6th arrondissement of Paris. The performances follow the venue's own programme; reception hours depend on performances. The façade and the square can be contemplated freely from the street.

When was the Odéon theatre created?

It was created in 1782, under the name Théâtre-Français, to house the Comédie-Française, and inaugurated by Marie-Antoinette.

What famous play triumphed there?

Beaumarchais's Marriage of Figaro met with immense success there, shortly after the theatre's inauguration.