Le Maillon

Le Maillon is one of Strasbourg's leading venues for the performing arts, based in the Wacken district right next to the Palais de la Musique et des Congrès (PMC) and the city's European quarter, home to EU institutions. The venue brings together theatre, dance, circus, music and visual arts under one roof, with a programme built around contemporary and often international work.

How do you get there?

The theatre sits at 1 Boulevard de Dresde, next to the PMC, in Strasbourg's fast-growing Wacken business district. It's roughly a twenty-minute walk from the old town, or a short tram ride — the stop by the PMC is served by several lines connecting Wacken to the rest of the city. Drivers will find parking around the congress complex. Tickets can be booked by phone, by email, or in person at the box office.

What's the story behind the building?

Le Maillon was founded in 1978 as a cultural centre in the Hautepierre neighbourhood, created to bring culture to residents living on Strasbourg's outskirts. In 1999 the company moved to Wacken, taking over a former exhibition hall on a temporary basis — an arrangement that lasted two decades. It wasn't until November 2019 that Le Maillon finally moved into a purpose-built home, designed by the Paris-based architecture practice LAN (Local Architecture Network).

What will you find inside?

The new building is a concrete "black box" that nods to the monumental tradition of Strasbourg's cultural institutions while breaking away from the classic proscenium-stage layout. Inside are two auditoriums — one seating 580 to 700, the other a more intimate 242-seat space — plus a spacious foyer, an open-air courtyard, and a series of modular areas that can be reconfigured for each production. It's considered one of the first French theatres built specifically for contemporary performance, deliberately blurring the line between stage and audience, indoors and outdoors. There's also a bar on site for a drink or a bite before or after the show.

When should you visit?

The season runs from September to June, mixing theatre, dance, circus, concerts and visual-arts shows, many with a distinctly European or international flavour. Beyond the listed performances, Le Maillon regularly hosts artists in residence who spend several weeks developing new work, and it runs themed programmes of talks and events open to the public. Since several productions only run for a handful of nights, it's worth checking the season programme ahead of time, as tickets for the bigger premieres tend to sell out quickly.

Frequently Asked Questions

What exactly is Le Maillon? A multidisciplinary performing-arts venue in Strasbourg covering theatre, dance, circus, music and visual arts, known for its European and international outlook.

Where is it located? At 1 Boulevard de Dresde in the Wacken district, next to the Palais de la Musique et des Congrès and close to Strasbourg's European quarter.

When was the current building opened? The purpose-built theatre designed by LAN opened in November 2019, following two decades in a temporary hall on the same site since 1999, and an earlier life in the Hautepierre neighbourhood starting in 1978.

How many auditoriums does it have, and how big are they? Two: a larger one seating 580–700 and a smaller, more intimate room for 242 people, along with additional modular spaces and an open-air courtyard.