Théâtre des Célestins

One of the few French theatres to have staged plays continuously for over two centuries, the Célestins occupies an elegant Italian-style horseshoe auditorium in central Lyon. Built on the site of a former convent, the current red-and-gold hall dates to the late nineteenth century after fires destroyed earlier structures. Its plush tiered balconies and painted ceiling make it a showpiece of French theatre architecture. Guided visits reveal the machinery beneath the stage and the ornate foyers where audiences once promenaded.