ALREADY KNOW YOUR NEXT DESTINATION?
DOWNLOAD YOUR FREE AUDIOGUIDE

Opéra Garnier

Opéra Garnier (25)

The Opera Garnier is in the palace of the same name. It forms part of a complex completed by the Opera Bastille. The two form the “National Opera of Paris”.

The Garnier Palace is an outstanding example of luxury and exuberance. 

It is a mixture of styles that range from classicism to Baroque with a grand profusion of columns and sculptures on the façade.

Garnier employed 14 painters and mosaic craftsmen and 73 sculptors in the decoration of the building. 

Over the flattened cupola that covers the stalls you will be able to see several sculptural groups, among them an Apollo raising the lyre surrounded by Pegasus, work of Millet.

The white marble stairway with a red and green marble balustrade is, without doubt, the most spectacular aspect of the palace. At the time of its opening it became a veritable catwalk of high society.

The foyers, spaces dedicated to strolling around during the intervals, are also richly decorated with mosaics. Garnier made them in the style of the grand French palaces. Also outstanding is the Salon du Glacier, which was completed after the opening. 

In the amphitheatre of five levels, red and gold are the main colours that contrast with the ceiling painted by Chagall inspired by the most well-known operas and ballets.

With a capacity for 2,130 spectators, it is relatively small in comparison with the impressive size of the building measuring 11,000 square metres.

It is a spectacular building inside and out. If you do not attend any performance, you can always go on a guided tour.

You can also visit the Opera Library-Museum which preserves the history of the palace: you can see changing rooms, models of stage decorations, scores, drawings and paintings. With a museum entrance ticket you can also visit the opera house, on the condition that there is no performance or rehearsal scheduled. 

ALL POINTS OF INTEREST
This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website

ACCEPT
+ INFO