Palais Garnier

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Tags : Historical Site

Timings : Unguided tour: 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM, to 1:00 PM on matinee performance days,
Guided tour by reservation

Entry Fee : Adult: EUR 14
Child: EUR 10

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Palais Garnier, Paris Overview

Symbolic of grand Parisian architecture and the opera culture of the country, Palais Garnier on Champs-Elysees in Paris is a 19th-century opera house with breathtaking interiors and exteriors. Palais Garnier mostly hosts ballets in its auditorium and is home to the Paris Opera Library Museum.

While in Paris Opera Library museum, the grand staircase, the foyer and the auditorium are not to be missed! The Palais Garnier in Paris, France takes pride in its recognition as one of the world's most famous opera houses. Its feature as the setting in Gaston Leroux's novel, The Phantom of the Opera further pushed it onto the stairs of popularity. This grand opera house is an architectural fusion of Baroque, classical and Renaissance styles, with the auditorium styled in Italian manner along with the grand staircase and the foyer, the rotunda and the bronze-crystal chandelier which are the artistic attractions here. It can host an audience of above 2000 and is one of Paris’ most visited historical monuments. There are audio self-guided and guided tours available here for the visitors who wish to know about this place.

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Tips While Visiting the Palais Garnier

  • Pre-booking of tickets online is recommended for visitors who wish to watch an opera show.

  • The place offers free entrance on the first Sunday of each month. Therefore if you want to gain free access, this is the day! However, this also happens to be one of the most crowded days here.

  • Suitcases and travel bags are not allowed inside the Palais Garnier. Therefore make sure you keep them outside in a safe space.

Architecture of the Palais Garnier

The Staircase at the Palais Garnier
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Palais Garnier's design was the result of an international design competition which was won by Charles Garnier. The foundation of this structure was laid in 1862. It was originally called "Salle des Capucines" and was the home of the Paris Opera till 1989.

Interior of the Palais Garnier
Source

Influenced by many historical sources and movements, architect Charles Garnier designed the Palais Garnier in what he described as the "Napoleon III" style. In this style of architecture, the entire space is covered with colours and decorations; which was precisely what Garnier did. 

The exterior of Palais Garnier of a majestic facade with two gilded figures L'Harmonie and La Poésie on its sides. Other structures here include the stage flytower which is a structural group of Apollo, Poetry and Music along with two bronze Pegasus', and the Pavillon de l'Empereur and Pavillon des Abonnés. The baroque style interior features the Grand Staircase, the Grand Foyer and the traditional horseshoe-shaped auditorium.

How To Reach Palais Garnier

By Metro: Take the metro from these stations; Opéra - Lines 3, 7 and 8, Chaussée d’Antin - Lines 7 and 9 or Madeleine - Lines 8 and 14 Auber.

By RER: If you are travelling by RER, the nearest stop is on Auber (RER A).

By Bus: You can also take the bus with numbers 20, 21, 22, 27, 29, 42, 52, 66, 68, 81 and 95.

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