Guided Tours of the Opera Garnier

L’Opera Garnier or Palais Garnier, a designated historic monument, is in the Place de l’Opéra in the 9th arrondissement of Paris.  It was built between 1861 and 1875 by the architect Charles Garnier and was part of Napoleon III’s grand plan for the reconstruction of the capital led by Baron Haussmann.  The monument is an example of grand civic architecture, mixing many different styles. 

The Opera Garnier closed to the famous Place Vendome, is an internationally renowned temple to the art of opera, music and dance.  Its facade is decorated with marble of different colours and imposing sculptures, mosaics, columns and gilding.  Its characteristic green and gold roof also displays several groups of statuary...there are even bees housed two ornate hives! The monument is open to visitors during the day where you can see for yourself its famous grand marble staircase, the red and gold Italianate auditorium with its 1900 velvet seats, lit by a magnificent crystal chandelier beneath a ceiling painted by Marc Chagall in 1964. 

The Avenue de l'Opéra is the only avenue in Paris which is not tree-lined, following the instruction of the architect, thus showing off this great building to the maximum and making it visible along with a lengthy perspective from the Louvre pyramid.  It’s very close to the big department stores and not far from the Place de la Madeleine. A second opera house was built at La Bastille in 1989 to complement the Garnier, called the Opera Bastille.

Join us and discover The Hidden Treasures of Paris from the Palais Royal to the Opera Garnier. Pariscityvision.com offers guided walking tours with priority access to the sights.