France's Six National Theaters

France has six national theaters, five of them in Paris, and each has its own specialty and theme. Chaillot focuses on dance, for example, while the Opéra-Comique specializes in traditional opera.

The Comédie-Française, often described as the world's first national theater, was founded in 1680 by order of Louis XIV. It stands just across from the Louvre, next to the Palais-Royal, and is nicknamed "the House of Molière." It was formed by merging two companies, including that of Molière, the great master of French theater, and has since earned international acclaim for a repertoire that runs from classics by Molière and Racine to contemporary plays. The writer saw Molière's The Miser here and, of all the theaters they visited in Paris, felt the pride and gravitas of a true French national theater. The interior is elegant and lavish, the gift shop is full of charming items, and even the water dispenser is printed with a line from a Molière play. At the performance the writer attended, visitors could borrow glasses, free of charge, that display English or French subtitles in real time. Position, brightness and size are easy to adjust and the timing matches the stage perfectly, a bit like watching Netflix with subtitles on.

The Odéon – Théâtre de l'Europe is a hub of European theater and the second-oldest national theater after the Comédie-Française. Like it, the Odéon stages a mix of contemporary plays and classics. It has two venues: one in the heart of Paris's 6th arrondissement, in a stately historic building, and one in the outlying 17th, with a much more modern feel and innovative programming.

Chaillot – Théâtre national de la Danse is the only French national theater devoted entirely to dance, and it regularly presents groundbreaking contemporary work. It sits on the Place du Trocadéro, so you can stroll before or after a show, and it's a great spot for views of the Eiffel Tower across the Seine.

For opera lovers, the Opéra-Comique bridges the tradition and the present of French opera with programming that is classic yet accessible. Its lavish Baroque interior makes a building tour worthwhile even if there's no show.

If experimental work and contemporary plays are more your thing, try La Colline, a theater dedicated to working with living writers. In its small hall, the writer saw a two-person play about refugees. The subject can be heavy, yet the audience was mostly children and teenagers. Midway through, spectators were asked to wear eye masks and listen only to the voices of refugee testimonies, a staging choice that left a strong impression.

Last is the Théâtre national de Strasbourg, the only national theater outside Paris. It focuses on regional theater and education, and emphasizes ties with the local community through workshops and participatory programs for young audiences.