Palais Garnier

The story

Napoleon III initiated the project, and architect Charles Garnier answered with a building that blends classical, baroque and Renaissance influences. Inaugurated on 5 January 1875 and listed as a historical monument in 1923, it was conceived as a place to see and be seen. It has mirrored political power and witnessed major events in French history. Together with the Opéra Bastille, it is one of the two venues of the Paris Opera and stages around 172 performances a season. The public areas can be explored on a self-guided route or on guided and after-hours tours. Routes pass the Subscribers' Rotunda, the Pythia Basin, the marble Grand Staircase, the auditorium and the Avant and Grand Foyers, whose gallery recalls the hall at Versailles. Costumes and artworks are displayed throughout, and the Opera Library-Museum hosts temporary exhibitions.