Palais Garnier, Opera house in 9th arrondissement, France
The Palais Garnier is an opera house in the ninth arrondissement of Paris, known for its horseshoe-shaped auditorium and ceiling painting by Marc Chagall. The interior displays wide marble staircases, gilded ornamentation, and red velvet curtains that extend through multiple levels.
Architect Charles Garnier designed this building from 1862 under commission from Napoleon III, and it opened in January 1875. Construction spanned more than a decade, combining stylistic elements of the Second Empire with Beaux-Arts architecture.
Ballet companies and opera singers perform regularly on this stage, which remains a central venue for French musical theater. Visitors can sense the atmosphere of an active theater where rehearsals and performances shape the rhythm of daily life.
The building sits near several metro stations and opens its doors daily to visitors who can join guided tours through the halls and foyers. It helps to arrive early to avoid waiting times and to view the rooms at a slower pace.
A chandelier weighing eight tons hangs from the center of the ceiling and is held by a system of chains. The underground passages and the lake beneath the building inspired Gaston Leroux to write his novel about the phantom.
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