Less than 100 metres from Hôtel Gramont, Place Boieldieu is home to the Opéra-Comique and its famous Salle Favart. Just a few steps separate the hotel from one of Paris’s oldest theatrical and musical institutions.
A prestigious neighbour, yet a surprisingly discreet one. Away from the bustle of the Grands Boulevards, its façade appears almost unexpectedly as you turn into Rue Marivaux. A wonderful address for attending a performance, visiting the theatre or simply discovering a lesser-known chapter of Parisian history.
SALLE FAVART, OUR NEIGHBOUR FOR MORE THAN TWO CENTURIES
The history of the Opéra-Comique dates back to 1714, making it one of France’s oldest theatrical and musical institutions. The first Salle Favart opened in 1783 on what is now Place Boieldieu, on land donated a few years earlier by the Duc de Choiseul.
The building we see today is in fact the third theatre to have stood on this site. Two successive buildings were destroyed by fire, in 1838 and 1887. The present Salle Favart opened in 1898.
Designed using some of the most modern techniques of its time, including a metal structure and electric lighting, it conceals a remarkably innovative theatre behind its classical façade. Its red-and-gold auditorium, painted foyer and decorative interiors still make it one of Paris’s most beautiful theatres.
CARMEN, MANON… WORKS BORN AT THE OPÉRA-COMIQUE
Bizet’s Carmen, Massenet’s Manon, Offenbach’s The Tales of Hoffmann and Debussy’s Pelléas et Mélisande: some of the most famous works in the operatic repertoire were first performed at the Opéra-Comique.
An exceptional musical legacy for this relatively intimate theatre, where works now performed around the world first came to life.
Among its major premieres, the Opéra-Comique lists Carmen, Manon, The Tales of Hoffmann and Pelléas et Mélisande, as well as Lakmé, L’Heure espagnole and La Voix humaine.
WHY IS IT CALLED SALLE FAVART?
Salle Favart takes its name from Charles-Simon and Justine Favart, an emblematic couple in the history of the Opéra-Comique in the 18th century. He was an author and director; she was an innovative actress. Together, they played a major role in shaping the genre, acting styles and stage costumes.
Rue Favart was named in their honour in 1780, and the theatre later naturally took the same name.
THE OPÉRA-COMIQUE DURING RENOVATION WORKS
Salle Favart is being modernised during the 2026–2027 season. Opéra-Comique productions are therefore being presented temporarily at several venues in Paris and the Île-de-France region, before the announced reopening of the theatre in autumn 2027.
Place Boieldieu nevertheless remains very much alive: the box office and Opéra-Comique services are still based there and, from January 2027, the Foyer will also host a programme of concerts, recitals and intimate events.
From Hôtel Gramont, Salle Favart remains our immediate neighbour, less than 100 metres away. If you are attending a performance during this special season, simply remember to check the venue shown on your ticket.
HOW DO YOU GET TO THE OPÉRA-COMIQUE FROM HÔTEL GRAMONT?
It could hardly be easier: Salle Favart is less than 100 metres from Hôtel Gramont.
From the hotel, just a few steps along Rue Grétry and then Rue Marivaux take you to Place Boieldieu and the entrance to the Opéra-Comique.
After the performance, there is no need for the metro or a taxi: you are almost home already.
DID YOU KNOW?
In 1780, the Duc de Choiseul gave up a plot of land to allow the future Salle Favart to be built. In return, a box is said to have been reserved for his family in perpetuity.
According to tradition, this privilege is said to have survived successive regimes and revolutions, and the box may still be reserved today for descendants of the Choiseul family.
