The Palais Royal is a large complex of historic buildings in central Paris, close to the Louvre Gallery and the Tuileries Gardens.
The complex of palace buildings is in the style of classical architecture and dates back to 1825.
Theatre and government offices
Most of the palace is off-limits to the general public as it houses the courts, the Council of State, the Constitutional Council or the Ministry of Culture.
Part of the palace is allocated to the Comédie-Française, one of the 6 companies that have the status of National Theatre.
The programme and tickets for the theatre can be found on the website: comedie-francaise.fr.
Courtyard with peristyle and columns
The courtyard of the palace, open to the public 24/7 free of charge, is the main attraction.
The largest part of the area is made up of art, created in 1986 by sculptor Daniel Buran. These are dozens of black-and-white striped columns of various sizes that create the illusion of a multi-story square.
At night, they are illuminated in green.
Another part is a beautiful peristyle with modern artistic fountains.
Jardin du Palais Royal
A popular place to hide from the hustle and bustle of the big city, this small, beautifully landscaped garden is right in the centre of Paris.
It is closely adjacent to the square with its black and white columns and is entirely surrounded by buildings that protect the garden from the traffic of the street.
Access to the garden is also free between 8:30-22:30.
Accommodation
Stay directly in the palace complex in a luxurious Grand Hôtel Du Palais Royal *****, which boasts, among other things, a magnificent rooftop terrace.
More affordable accommodation is offered in close proximity by, for example, these two hotels:
How to get there
Access to the gardens and the square is from the north and south via public passages.
The nearest public transport stations are:
- Station Palais Royal - Musée du Louvre (approx. 100 metres)
- Metro 1 - Champs-Elysées, Place de la Concorde, Petit + Grand Palais, Arc de Triomphe, La Défense, Chatelet, Le Marais, Bastille, Nation, Chateau Vincennes, Gare de Lyon
- Metro 7 - Opera, Gare de l'Est, Bassin de la Villette, Pont Neuf, Le Marais, Place d'Italie
- Bus 21 - Chatelet, Notre Dame, Sainte Chapelle, Conciergerie, Latin Quarter, Luxembourg Gardens, Opera, Place de Clichy-Montmartre, Gare Saint-Lazare
- Bus 69 - Champ de Mars-Eiffel Tower, Invalides, Musée d'Orsay, Chatelet, Centre Pompidou, Bastille
- Pyramides station (approx. 180 metres)
- Metro 7 - see above
- Metro 14 - La Madeleine Church, Chatelet, Gare Saint-Lazare, Gare de Lyon, Gare de Bercy
- Stop Palais Royal - Comedie Francaise (approx. 20 metres)
- Bus 27 - Opera, Gare Saint-Lazare, Latin Quarter, Luxembourg Gardens, Place d'Italie
- Bus 39 - Gare du Nord, Gare de l'Est, Gare Montparnasse
- Bus 68 - Opera, Place de Clichy-Montmartre, Musée d'Orsay, Montparnasse Cemetery, Porte d'Orléans
- Bus 95 - Opera, Montmartre, Gare Saint-Lazare, Gare Montparnasse, Porte de Vanves
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