Best Entertainment in France’s Capital
Fans of the boulevard theatre and the French cinema will get their money worth especially at the small theatres: Here play oftenly the quite big actors of the country. Normally their career has always begun in Paris and that seems to be the reason why they return reguarly with pleasure.
Therefrom you should not forget to choose adequate clothings in the run-up to your trip. An ordinary jeans e.g. is not accepted at elegant soirées in a city like Paris!
► Tip: To get informations about almost every event in and around Paris it is the easiest way to buy one of the tradition-rich event magazines «Pariscope» (€ 0,40) and «L’Officiel des Spectacles» (€ 0,35). Both were publicated always on Wednesdays, are absolutely recommendable and available at every kiosk in Paris. Included are e.g. also a completely survey of the current cinema programme, previews onto the coming premieres and partially reviews, too.
Commentary
Here you get the tickets!
On the same day of the performance the Kiosques Théâtres have about 50% reduced tickets for the best seat categories. The Kiosques are located next to the Madeleine (métro: Madeleine), at the feet of the Tour Montparnasse (métro: Montparnasse-Bienvenue) and at the métro station Ternes.
Payment cash or by cheque only. The average ticket price amounts € 20,00. A commission of € 3,00 per ticket will be added. The Kiosques are open Tuesdays until Saturdays 12:30 to 8:00 p.m., on Sundays 12:30 to 4:00 p.m. You should be on site punctually.
With its big opera buildings, small theatres and modern music arenas Paris offers you a wide variety of entertainment possibilities. Charles Aznavour and Patricia Kaas are fascinated by the magical atmosphere and even the big Phil Collins has found in Paris his favourite audience. Sure, during theatre visits some language knowledges are an advantage but for culture friends it will be already an event just to sit at the time-honoured Comédie Française or the Théâtre du Palais-Royal. The noble atmosphere of the Palais Garnier makes almost addicted. Even the heaviest opera piece seems to become filigree in those feudal halls.
Here you get the tickets!
On the same day of the performance the Kiosques Théâtres have about 50% reduced tickets for the best seat categories. The Kiosques are located next to the Madeleine (métro: Madeleine), at the feet of the Tour Montparnasse (métro: Montparnasse-Bienvenue) and at the métro station Ternes.
Payment cash or by cheque only. The average ticket price amounts € 20,00. A commission of € 3,00 per ticket will be added. The Kiosques are open Tuesdays until Saturdays 12:30 to 8:00 p.m., on Sundays 12:30 to 4:00 p.m. You should be on site punctually.
Fans of the boulevard theatre and the French cinema will get their money worth especially at the small theatres: Here play oftenly the quite big actors of the country. Normally their career has always begun in Paris and that seems to be the reason why they return reguarly with pleasure.
Therefrom you should not forget to choose adequate clothings in the run-up to your trip. An ordinary jeans e.g. is not accepted at elegant soirées in a city like Paris!
► Tip: To get informations about almost every event in and around Paris it is the easiest way to buy one of the tradition-rich event magazines «Pariscope» (€ 0,40) and «L’Officiel des Spectacles» (€ 0,35). Both were publicated always on Wednesdays, are absolutely recommendable and available at every kiosk in Paris. Included are e.g. also a completely survey of the current cinema programme, previews onto the coming premieres and partially reviews, too.
 Athénée-Théâtre Louis Jouvet  The building in the exotic architecture style of hinduistic temples was inaugurated as Éden-Théâtre around 1880. But already in 1896, after extensive reconstruction works, it was renamed into Athénée-Théâtre – although the hall is still today beautiful there remains not much from the old architectural look. The stage is dedicated to Louis Jouvets, who managed the house successfully between 1934 and 1951. The programme of the Athénée consists of different kinds of dramatic pieces as well as classic operas.
► A current schedule incl. admission fees can be taken from the institution’s website. Address: Square de l’Opéra-Louis Jouvet/7, rue Boudreau • F 75009 Paris (9th Arrondissement) • Internet:  www.athenee-theatre.com • Phone: 01.53.05.19.19 • Fax: 01.53.05.19.01• Métro: Opéra, Chaussée d'Antin, Madeleine
 |
 Bercy (Palais d’Omnisports de Bercy) With a capacity of 17'000 spectators is Bercy the big concert and sport arena in town. It became inaugaurated in December 1983 after more than four years lasting construction works. The architecture was designed by the trio Andrault-Parat, Prouvé and Guvan.
Out of the yearly business break in July and August a public ice-skating stadium is opened which is annexed to the arena. The opening hours and entrance rates vary strongly: Please check them online! The basilica is a building of amazing importance, with it the Gothic Era began. The nave has a length of 108 m and a height of 29 m (both towers 84 m). A legend tells that around 250 the martyr Dionysius ran to this place after his execution by the guillotine on Montmartre – with his head under his arm – to be buried on site. Around 500 the construction works of the monestary complex began. Later it had have big influence on the sovereigns of the nation. Not before 1966 the basilica became a cathedral. ► A current schedule incl. admission fees can be taken from the institution’s website. Address: 8, boulevard de Bercy • F 75012 Paris (12th Arrondissement)• Internet: www.bercy.fr • Phone: 08.92.39.04.90 (€ 0,34/Min.) • Métro: Bercy
|
 Bobin’O  Just since 2007 the Bobin'O exists. Gérard Louvin bought the old, former Bobino theatre built in 1802 and invested much money into the modernisation. The young cabaret has a very contemporary concept and is ready to get one of the big show stages in Paris. For performances on weekends you should reserve in due.
► Review: «Young, fresh, bold: The new Bobin’O» (2008). A current schedule incl. admission fees can be taken from the institution's website. Address: 14-20, rue de la Gaîté · F 75014 Paris (14th arrondissement) · Internet: www.bobino.fr · Phone: 01.43.27.24.24 · Fax: 01.43.27.72.27 · Métro: Gaîté
|
 Cirque Diana Moreno-Bormann The nice enterprice performs since 1999 the whole year in Paris und changes its location within the city limits only every few years. The extensive decor and the old, wooden showman trucks arrange a lot of pure circus romantic. In the show you see a classic programme with acrobats, animals and clowns. The Moreno family is a famous circus dynasty in France and works also in the sixth generation under the big top. ► A current schedule incl. admission fees can be taken from the institution’s website. The location in Paris may vary under circumstances short-termly Address: 112, rue de la Haie Coq • F 75019 Paris (19th Arrondissement) • Internet: www.cirque-diana-moreno.com • Phone: 01.64.05.36.25 and 06.10.71.83.50 • Fax: 01.64.05.85.86 • Métro: Auberbilliers-Pantin, Porte de la Chapelle, Porte de la Villette
|
 Cirque d’Hiver Bouglione 
«More than 150 years of laughter, emotions and dreams, that's the epos of the Cirque d’Hiver!»
The last «winter circus» of Paris is situated in the Bastille quartier. The spectator awaits no big top but a time-honoured, tradition-rich and ornated building of the year 1852 with a capacity of 1'600 people. Napoléon, III., was building owner in those days. The grand premiere took place on December 11th. Until 1870 the circus beared the name of its creator, in 1871 it got his today's name, simply «Cirque d'Hiver». The Bouglione brothers, Joseph, Alexandre, Sampion and Firmin, everyone of them a true circus king, acquired the winter circus in 1934. Until today the building is in possession the most famous French circus dynasty. After a longer interruption the Bougliones present today again each winter since 1999 large-scaled staged and frenetically celebrated programmes with artists, clowns, animals and big live-orchestra. ► Reviews: «‹Audace› at the Bouglione winter circus» (2005),
«‹Fffffumagalli› is the star of the ‹Artistes› at Bouglione» (2006),
«The ‹Étoiles› for the tenth jubilee» (2008),
«A festival of the big clowns» (2009).
A current schedule incl. admission fees can be taken from the institution’s website. Address: 110, rue Amelot · F 75011 Paris (11th Arrondissement) · Internet:
www.cirquedhiver.com · Phone: 01.47.00.28.81 · Fax: 01.47.00.16.75 · Métro: Fille du Calvaire, Oberkampf
|
 Comédie Caumartin  Since about 100 years the private Comédie Caumartin exists in the an der street of the same name in the ninth Parisian arrondissement. For all times the team prefers to comedies of Feydeau, Tristan Bernard and Sacha Guitry. Because of the lifted stage and the gradiently arranged auditorium unlimited view onto the stage. As also in each other Parisian theatre you will be placed by the personal – and as in each other private (!) theatre one awaits a mite from you.
► A current schedule incl. admission fees can be taken from the institution’s website. Address: 25, rue Caumartin • F 75009 Paris (9th Arrondissement) • Internet: www.theatreonline.com • Phone: 01.47.42.43.41 • Fax: 01.42.66.49.96 • Métro: Havre-Caumartin
|
 Comédie Française (Salle Richelieu) In France the Comédie Française is the epitome for the classic theatre for meanwhile more than 300 years. It is the oldest actor ensemble in the world and has been brought into being still by Louis, XIV., himself: In 1680 he ordered a cooperation of the both most important actor troups in Paris, those of the Hôtel Guénégaud and the Hôtel de Bourgogne. Their resistance lost ground when the king offered them the monopoly for each French piece in the capital. (Many years ago the state replaced the monopoly by a yearly and volouminous financial shot in the arm.) Finally in 1799 the Comédie Française found here its permanent doss in the Salle Richelieu, which was new built in those days in direct neighbourhood to the Palais Royal of Victor Louis.
The programme of the theatre contains above all the grand classics of the country, especially works of Molière, who co-founded the Comédie. His «Tartuffe» is also its most-performed piece. By the way it was Napoléon who arranged the theatre's statutes (which are valid still today) in 1812: Hence the ensemble is composed of «sociétaires» with long-term contracts of ten until 30 years as well as of «pensionnaires» with one-year contract terms. ► A current schedule incl. admission fees can be taken from the institution’s website. Address: , rue Colette • F 75001 Paris (1st Arrondissement)• Internet: www.comedie-francaise.fr • Phone: 08.25.10.16.80 (€ 0,15/Min.) • Fax: 08.26.80.16.80 (€ 0,15/Min.) • Métro: Palais-Royal/Musée du Louvre
|
| Grande Comédie For Parisian relations the private «Big Comedy» is more a very small theatre: There are only 400 seats for the spectators in front of the stage. The charming establishment impresses inside with an extensive decoration and the portraits on the walls. Their motifs: The most popular actors who performed here over the years. The Grande Comédie was reopened in the first months of the year 2006.
► A current schedule incl. admission fees can be taken from the institution’s website. Address: 40, rue de Clichy • F 75009 Paris (9th Arrondissement)• Internet: www.theatreonline.com • Phone: 01.48.74.03.65 • Fax: 01.48.74.03.12 • Métro: Trinité
|
 Le Zénith In 1983 Philippe Caix and Jean-Paul Morel constructed this hall complex with a size of 6'200 sqm. Inspite of its 5'830 seats (they are installed on two levels) is no spectactor more than 50 m away from the stage. The spectrum of the Zénith starts at chansons and finishes at rock music. Nevertheless the tendency goes quite surely to the modern sounds.
► A current schedule incl. admission fees can be taken from the institution’s website. Address: 211, avenue Jean Jaurès • F 75019 Paris (19th Arrondissement) • Internet: www.le-zenith.com • Phone: 01.42.08.60.00 • Métro: Porte de Pantin
|
 L’Élysée Montmartre For fans of the a little bit heavier style of music the Élysées is probably a true eldorado. Bands like «Apocalyptica» or «The Rasmus» perform mostly on stage. The location itself exists already since 1900, but it founders would probably rubb astonished their ears today – in his days more classical melodies sounded videlicet... ► A current schedule incl. admission fees can be taken from the institution’s website. Address: 72, boulevard Rochechouart • F 75018 Paris (18th Arrondissement) • Internet: www.elyseemontmartre.com • Phone: 08.92.69.23.92 (€ 0,34/Min.) • Fax: 01.42.23.46.50 • Métro: Anvers
|   |
![[paris-tourist.com] Footer](../images/footer_eng.jpg){kind=small}