Wonderful Palais Garnier in Paris, known as the Phantom of the Opera Home.

One of my most beloved places in Paris.

It was built for the Paris Opera from 1861 to 1875 at the behest of Emperor Napoleon III. Initially referred to as le nouvel Opéra de Paris (the new Paris Opera), it soon became known as the Palais Garnier.

There have been a total of 13 Opera Houses in Paris. A 19th-century architectural masterpiece, the Palais Garnier Opera House, built by Charles Garnier and opened in 1875, is the 13th opera house in Paris since the introduction of French opera by Louis XIV in 1669.

The Paris Opera has been a living centre of creation for over 350 years. At 52 metres wide by 62 metres high, the stage at the Palais Garnier is the biggest in Europe.

The bronze and crystal chandelier in the Auditorium is famous for it’s size (weighing 7 tons) and inspired a scene from Phantom of the Opera. The ceiling of the Opéra Garnier was completely renovated and re-imagined in 196. The talented Marc Chagall was entrusted with painting 2,400 square feet of frescoes.

The Angel of the music

Paris’ Palais Garnier theater served as inspiration for Gaston Leroux’s book The Phantom of the Opera.

The Phantom of the Opera is a novel written by Gaston Leroux set in Palais Garnier during the late 19th century.

It was also turned into a musical by Andrew Lloyd Weber. The Phantom of the Opera became the longest-running musical on the West End in London, with its first performance in 1986.

I must admit that I have watched it many times and each time I book tickets for the next performance with great joy to experience this story once again.

While you visit the Opera, take a glance at box number 5.

There is a gold plaque on the door saying, “Loge du Fantôme de l’Opéra” – „The Phantom of the Opera‘s Box“

The glamorous Opera Garnier was commissioned by Emperor Napoleon III as part of his project of reconstruction of Paris. To build the new Paris Opera House, a competition for the best design was conducted in 1860. 

The competition winner was Charles Garnier, a young and unknown architect who presented a highly eclectic project borrowing elements from many historical sources.

The Opera Palais Garnier was completed in 1874 and today is considered a masterpiece of Neo-Baroque Architecture and one of the most beautiful places to visit in Paris. 

Angelika Jarosławska Sapieha