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The Opéra Garnier, is a 1,600-seat opera house on the Place de l’Opéra in Paris, France.

The Palais Garnier is the thirteenth theatre to house the Paris Opera since it was founded by Louis XIV in 1669. It was built on the orders of Napoleon III as part of the great Parisian reconstruction project carried out by Baron Haussmann. The project for an opera house was put out to competition and was won by Charles Garnier, an unknown 35-year-old architect. Building work, which lasted fifteen years, from 1860 to 1875, was interrupted by numerous incidents, including the 1870 war, the fall of the Empire and the Commune. The Palais Garnier was inaugurated on 5 January 1875.

The building is located in the 9th arrondissement of Paris and is served by the metro station Opéra and bus 21, 22, 27, 29, 42, 53, 66, 68, 81, 95.

In the year 2000 the main façade of the Opera was completely renovated, thus revealing its original rich colours and golden statue-work.

The Grand Staircase is one of the most famous features of the Palais Garnier. Built in marble of various colours, the double stairway leads to the foyers and the different levels of the auditorium. The Grand Staircase is itself a theatre where, in years gone by, the crinolines of fashionable society ladies would brush. The four sections of the painted ceiling depict different allegories of music.

For More information : Opera National de Paris

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