Le Palais Cardinal et le Palais Royal
France's first minister Cardinal Richelieu (1585-1642) built
this stately complex to serve as his Parisian home. Located in the heart
of Paris just a short distance from the Louvre, the Palais Cardinal was
under construction throughout the height of Richelieu's career. Its large
theatre, completed just before his death, was the best-equipped performance
space in the city. Richelieu left his palace and its theatre to the royal
family upon his death, making the Palais Cardinal the Palais Royal. It transferred
hands several times and underwent numerous renovations, remaining one of
the key performance sites in Paris for more than a century. Perhaps most
notably, it served as the site of the public performances of Molière's
plays between 1661 and 1673. After 1673, the theatre became the site of
the Paris Opéra under the management of Molière's rival Jean-Baptiste
Lully.
Le Palais Cardinal
Le Palais Royal
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