Théâtre Déjazet

Théâtre Déjazet sits on the boulevard du Temple in Paris's 3rd arrondissement, and it holds a unique spot on the city's theatrical map — it's the only stage from this street to have made it into the present day.

Why is this place unusual?

Back in the 19th century, the boulevard du Temple was lined with theatres where Parisians flocked to watch dramas full of intrigue, crime and melodramatic plot twists. When Prefect Georges-Eugène Haussmann carried out his sweeping rebuild of Paris, nearly all of those buildings vanished for good, making way for new avenues and squares. Théâtre Déjazet was the sole survivor of that wave of demolition, and it still stands in almost the same spot today, a living trace of the street's former identity as a theatre district. That survival alone makes it a rarity across the whole city — a chance to see a theatre building that could easily have shared the fate of dozens of others, yet made it through to the 21st century.

Where exactly is it located?

The building stands in the 3rd arrondissement, in a part of Paris bordering Place de la République and the Marais district. It's a location that blends historic character with the buzz of the modern capital — cafés, shops and other spots typical of this lively stretch of the Right Bank surround it.

How do you get there?

The area around the boulevard du Temple is one of the better-connected corners of the Right Bank. It's an easy walk from either Place de la République or the heart of the Marais, making the route a pleasant way to combine a visit with exploring the surrounding streets. Public transport in this part of the city is dense, so reaching it from almost anywhere in central Paris takes little time.

What should you know before visiting?

Théâtre Déjazet isn't a museum piece — it's a working theatre where performances still take place. That means a visit is best planned around the current programme and show times rather than treated as a simple walk-by from the outside. The building itself, its spot on this historic boulevard, and the knowledge that it's the last living witness of a once-thriving theatre street already carry real value — even a short walk through the area lets you feel the atmosphere of a place that would otherwise survive only as a footnote in books about Parisian history.

When's the best time to visit?

Since the theatre runs year-round according to its own performance calendar, there's no single "best" season tied to weather or tourist crowds — the programme is what matters most. For anyone who simply wants to see the building and its surroundings, any time of year works, though spring and early autumn are especially pleasant for longer walks through the neighbouring streets of the 3rd arrondissement.

Frequently asked questions

What makes Théâtre Déjazet stand out among Paris theatres? It's the only surviving stage from the old theatres of the boulevard du Temple — all the others disappeared during Haussmann's 19th-century rebuilding of the city.

Which part of Paris is the theatre in? It's in the 3rd arrondissement, on the boulevard du Temple, close to Place de la République and the Marais.

Is it still an active theatre or just a historic building to view? It's a working stage — performances run here regularly, so it's worth pairing a visit with a specific show.

Is the surrounding area worth a longer walk? Yes — the nearby mix of Place de la République and the Marais combines historic streets with contemporary Parisian life, making a walk through the neighbourhood a natural extension of visiting the theatre itself.