Théâtre National (rue de la Loi)

The Théâtre National (French pronunciation: [teɑtʁ nɑsjɔnal]) was a Parisian theatre located across from the Bibliothèque Nationale de France on the rue de la Loi, which was the name of the rue de Richelieu from 1793 to 1806.

[2] Other names have included Salle de la rue de la Loi, Salle de la rue de Richelieu, Salle Montansier, and Théâtre Montansier, although the latter two names have also been used to refer to two other theatres built and/or managed by Montansier: the Théâtre Montansier in Versailles and the Théâtre du Palais-Royal.

The Théâtre National was designed by the architect Victor Louis and had a capacity of 2,300 spectators.

[2] The theatre served as the principal home of the Paris Opera from 26 July 1794 to 13 February 1820 during which time it was known variously as the Théâtre des Arts (1794), the Théâtre de la République et des Arts (1797), again as Théâtre des Arts (1803), the Académie Impériale de Musique (1804), the Académie Royale de Musique (1814), again as Académie Impériale de Musique during the Hundred Days of Napoleon, and finally again as the Académie Royale de Musique (1815–1820).

[4] Following the assassination of Charles Ferdinand, Duke of Berry in 1820, who had been leaving after a performance, King Louis XVIII ordered the theatre's closure and demolition.