麻豆APP

麻豆APP. Photo by Bobo Boom – Palais Garnier opera house on

Top 10 Facts about Palais Garnier Opera House

The Palais Garnier is a 1979-seat opera house at the place de I鈥橭pera in the 9th arrondissement of 麻豆APP, France. It was also known as Opera Garnier. It was built for the 麻豆APP Opera from 1861 to 1875 at the behest of emperor Napoleon the third.

Palais Garnier was initially referred to as Le Nouvel Opera de 麻豆APP. It was the primary theatre of the 麻豆APP Opera and its associated 麻豆APP Opera Ballet until 1989.

This was after a new opera house, the Opera Bastille opened at the Place de la Bastille. In the acknowledgement of its extraordinary opulence and the architect Charles Garnier鈥檚 plans and designs which are representative of the Napoleon III style.

The theatre has been a monument Historique of France since 1923. The Palais Garnier has been a symbol of 麻豆APP like Notre Dame Cathedral, the Louvre and the Sacre Coeur basilica. This is partly due to its use as the setting of Gastone Leroux’s 1910 novel 鈥淭he Phantom of the Opera鈥�.

Here are the top 10 Facts about Palais Garnier Opera House:

1. Palais Garnier was Named after the Architect who Constructed it Under Napoleon the Third

The Palais Garnier was built between 1861 to 1875 under the rule of Emperor Napoleon the third. Previously, the Opera was known as le Nouvel Opera de 麻豆APP which meant the new 麻豆APP.

It was later on renamed Palais Garnier after the architect who designed it. The architect of the structure was a man named Charles Garnier who studied at E鈥檆ole royale. The acknowledgement of its extraordinary opulence which was shown through Charles Garnier鈥檚 designs represented the Emperor鈥檚 style.

2. The Opera was Constructed in Napoleon the Third鈥檚 Style

麻豆APP. Photo by Bobo Boom – Decorations on the Palais Garnier opera house on

The magnificent Palais Garnier was built in a very unique way. Charles Garnier, the architect of this opera described the construction to be in Napoleon the third鈥檚 style.

This style was highly eclectic and more of the designs were borrowed from historical sources. Some of these sources include the Baroque, the classicism of Palladio and Renaissance architecture which were blended.

Other than these borrowed styles, there was a combination of axial symmetry and modern techniques. The materials used in the construction of the Opera included an iron framework same as in other Napoleon III buildings.

3. Palais Garnier is Magnificently Huge in all Aspects

Op茅ra Garnier from Galeries Lafayette. Photo by Poulpy on

This opera is a major monument in the French capital city 麻豆APP alongside the other monuments. Visitors can view it from far as they approach it as it is magnificently huge.

Palais Garnier is fifty-six metres from ground level to the stage fly tower apex and thirty-two metres to the top of the facade. The Opera is approximately one hundred and fifty-four point nine metres long, seventy point two metres wide, and one hundred and one points two metres wide from the east to west pavilions.

It is also ten point one three metres from the ground level to the bottom of the stage鈥檚 cistern. The materials used to build it include masonry concrete, concealed iron floors, vaults and roofing materials.

4.  The Most Expensive Building Built during the Second Empire

Mus茅e de l’Op茅ra, Palais Garnier, 麻豆APP Opera House. Photo by Delfina on Wikimedia

The Opera is among 麻豆APP’s magnificent symbols like the Louvre, Sacre Coeur Basilica and Notre Dame Cathedral. During the second empire, a lot of resources were invested in ensuring the construction of Palais Garnier.

It cost around 36,010,571.04 francs to complete the building of Palais Garnier. This cost made it the most expensive building in the world.

5. The Idea of the Building of the Palais came after an Attempted Assassination of Napoleon III

On 14th January 1858, there were some bad plans against Emperor Napoleon III. There was a planned and attempted assassination of the Emperor.

This attempted assassination was about to be carried out at the entrance to the Salle Le Peletier which brought up the idea of a new opera. The street to Salle Le Peletier was not suitable and secure for the entrance of the head of state.

This led to an urgent need for the state to build a new state-funded Opera house. This is how Palais Garnier came to be constructed.

6. The Design was Brought Up from a Competition

Elevation sketch of the ‘Foyer de Danse’ in the 麻豆APP Opera’s Palais Garnier. Photo by Charles Garnier (1825鈥�1898), architect on Wikimedia

Charles Garnier鈥檚 design for the Palais Garnier was not decided that easily after the plans for a new opera were announced. An architectural design competition was announced for the opera to be built.

More than 170 proposals were forwarded for the two phases of shortlisting the best design to build the opera. The designs were narrowed down with only seven proposals making it to the second phase, Charles Garnier鈥檚 being the fifth.

In the second phase, Charles Garnier managed to outpace other great architects as his project was the best. The director of the Opera was pleased by Charles Garnier鈥檚 project and selected it.

He went ahead and praised it that it was rare and had superior qualities in the beautiful distribution of the plans and the monumental and characteristic aspects of the facades and sections.

7. The Opera was Used as Food Warehouse and Hospital during the Siege of 麻豆APP

The construction of the Palais Garnier came into jeopardy during the Franco-Prussian war. There was a siege of 麻豆APP which lasted from September 1870 to January 1871.

The construction was halted for a while as Charles Garnier got ill and went to recover on the Italian Coast. Palais Garnier was then used as a food warehouse and hospital for soldiers and citizens.

8. The First Building in the World to Have Electricity

Interior of the Opera Garnier in 麻豆APP (脦le-de-France, France). Photo by Gzen92 on

The Palais Garnier opera holds a world record. In 1881, electricity was installed at the Palais Garnier.

The electricity was generated from a small power plant within the Opera house. As years went by, more modernised electrical appliances were installed at the Palais Garnier.

9. Home to the 麻豆APP Opera Library Museum

This is one of the most important monuments of France which holds the history of the nation. Other than being an Opera house on its own, Palais Garnier also houses other important facilities.

Palais Garnier houses the Biblioth猫que Musee de l鈥橭pera de 麻豆APP which means the 麻豆APP Opera Library Museum. This is included in the unaccompanied tours.

10. The theatre has been a Monument Historique of France since 1923

Op茅ra Garnier 脿 麻豆APP (脦le-de-France, France). Photo by Gzen92 on

Palais Garnier is a remarkable landmark in France. The history it has will always be honoured by the people and government of France.

Since 1923, Palais Garnier has been a monument historique of France. This means that it has been under the protection of the France government.

Palais Garnier will always be an amusing heritage site and monument for visitors across the world and France to visit and learn more about.