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Opéra National de Paris Garnier
Not just a night out, but a whole experience, opera has now returned to its original Paris base after the theatre had a spell as a dance-only venue. The vast stage can hold a cast of 450, and the building itself is an example of excessive opulence, complete with grand staircase, mirrors and marble (see Opéra National de Paris Garnier).
Folies-Bergère
The epitome of Parisian cabaret, the Folies were, for a time, no more than a troupe of high-kicking, bare-breasted dancers. Today, the musical shows have largely returned to the nostalgic days when Maurice Chevalier and Josephine Baker performed here.
32 rue Richer, 75009
08 92 68 16 50
The Lido
Home to the world famous troupe of long-legged dancers, the Bluebell Girls, the fabulous special effects include aerial ballets and an on-stage skating rink. There are many who regard this dinner-cabaret as an essential Parisian experience.
116 bis ave des Champs-Elysées, 75008
01 40 76 56 10
The Lido
Moulin Rouge
The original home of the Can-Can, the theatre’s dancers were immortalized on canvas by Toulouse-Lautrec during the belle époque and are on display in the Musée d’Orsay. The show still has all the razzamatazz that has been dazzling audiences since 1889. The pre-show dinner is optional (see Moulin Rouge).
Le Crazy Horse Paris
More risqué than the other big-name cabaret shows, the Saloon has a reputation for putting on the most professional as well as the sexiest productions. Striptease features, along with glamorous dancing girls and other cabaret acts. The computer-controlled lighting effects are spectacular.
12 ave George V, 75008
01 47 23 32 32
Le Crazy Horse Paris
Le Cirque d’Hiver
Worth visiting for the freshly renovated façade alone, this whimsical 150-year-old building plays host to the traditional Cirque Bouglione, complete with trapeze artists and tame tigers.
110 rue Amelot, 75011
01 47 00 28 81
Comédie Française
Paris’s oldest theatre was founded in 1680 and is still the only one with its own repertory company, staging both classical and modern drama (in French). The current building dates from the 18th century. Around the corner from the main box office, a special window opens 45 minutes before curtain-up, selling reduced price tickets for under-27s and concessions.
1 pl Colette, 75001
08 25 10 16 80 (+33 0 1 44 58 15 15 from abroad)
Opéra National de Paris Bastille
Opened in 1992 as the largest opera house in the world, this modern building was heavily criticized, not least for its acoustics and poor facilities. However, this is still the best place to see opera in Paris.
Pl de la Bastille, 75012
08 92 89 90 90
(+33 0 172 29 35 35 from abroad)
Théâtre du Châtelet
The city’s largest concert hall and fourth-largest auditorium was built in 1862. The repertoire covers classical music, ballet and opera, as well as popular Sunday morning chamber music concerts.
1 pl du Châtelet, 75004
01 40 28 28 00
Théâtre de la Ville
Once known as the Sarah Bernhardt Theatre, in honour of the great Parisian actress who performed here and managed the theatre in the 19th century, today it puts on an eclectic range of modern dance, music shows and some classical theatre.
2 pl du Châtelet, 75004
01 42 74 22 77
Les Enfants du Paradis
The city’s underworld is shown in this 1944 classic.
Everyone Says I Love You
Woody Allen’s 1996 movie included many scenes shot around Notre-Dame and the Left Bank.
A Bout de Souffle
French New Wave director Jean-Luc Godard’s 1959 film stars Jean-Paul Belmondo as a car thief on the run.
French Can-Can
The Jean Renoir classic (1955) tells the story of how the famous dance was created in Montmartre clubs.
Last Tango in Paris
Controversial, erotic 1972 film starring Marlon Brando.
The Trial
Orson Welles used the then empty Gare d’Orsay (now the Musée d’Orsay) to create a convincingly huge and anonymous office for his 1962 version of Kafka’s novel.
Subway
The metro was the star in this 1985 Luc Besson film about a man who seeks refuge at night in its stations.
Les 400 Coups
Gritty Paris streets feature in this 1959 François Truffaut film about a boy on the run.
Amélie
Jean-Pierre Jeunet’s 2000 sensation about a girl’s quest for love features numerous scenes in Montmartre.
Prêt-à-Porter
Robert Altman takes a satirical look at the Paris fashion industry in his 1995 film.