Grand Théâtre de Tours, Opera house in Tours, France

The Grand Théâtre de Tours is an Italian-style opera house on rue de la Scellerie in Old Tours, with a pale stone facade topped by a pediment bearing sculpted winged figures. Its central arched bay holds a pink-framed multi-paned window and a small oval opening above a dark metal gate; paired columns frame the front, and the names Marivaux, Molière and Corneille are carved on the facade. Inside are a 950-seat auditorium, a grand staircase and a public foyer.

The site was a Cordeliers church, converted into an 800-seat theatre in 1796 by a private citizen named Bûcheron. The city bought it in 1867, demolished it, and had Léon Rohard design a new building, inaugurated on 8 August 1872. A fire in 1883 left only the facade and four walls; Jean-Marie Hardion, then Stanislas Loison, rebuilt it, and the present theatre opened in 1889.

The theater serves as a cultural gathering space for the region, hosting opera performances, concerts, and educational programs for young audiences. Visitors can experience both classical works and contemporary artistic productions throughout the year.

The theatre stands on rue de la Scellerie in Old Tours, its facade facing the street with two trees in front. The vestibule, grand staircase, auditorium and public foyer are the classified parts, so these are the spaces to look for when entry is possible. The Opera de Tours runs the house with its permanent choir, alongside the Orchestre symphonique région Centre-Val de Loire-Tours.

The facade sculptures are by Frédéric-Charles Combarieu, and the interior decoration was entrusted to Georges Clairin after the 1883 fire. The building's design echoes Charles Garnier's Paris Opera, inaugurated in 1875. The vestibule, grand staircase, auditorium and public foyer were separately protected by decree on 3 February 2000.