The Paris Opera House or Palais Garnier was on our list during this visit to Paris. We'd previously passed by, looked around the outside but never ventured inside. This time however we did.
The opulence of the interior is amazing and one could imagine people in their finery of days gone by, coming for a night out at the opera.
I wonder what opening night must have been like. Construction started in 1861 but people waited until 1871 for it to be finished. It was the inspiration of the 1911 novel "Phantom of the Opera" by Leroux and also Andrew Lloyd Webster's adaption as a musical. Sue and I saw it twice in Melbourne and would go again.
And here we were in jeans and sneakers - it just didn't seem quite right. As you enter you are greeted by the Grand Staircase which is illuminated by the many statue and hanging lights. The curved staircase takes you to the next floor. We then walked to the Grand Foyer surrounded either side by a shower of chandeliers. Just over the top!
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| All paths lead to the Opera House - Not such a busy time when we arrived. |
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| The entry facade. |
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| The Dance by Carpeaux. |
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| The great classical composers look down upon us tourists. Mozart, Beethoven all their mates. |
The actual opera area on this day was closed at the time of our visit but we stumbled upon a stairway that took us to the "Gods" seats and had a great view looking down on to the stage and the surrounding seats. I now why people have those funny little opera glasses so they can get a better view of the stage.
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| Everywhere you looked, there was something to marvel at. Even the ceilings were masterpieces , works of art. |
Baron Hausmann was commissioned to clear the area where the Opera house now stands - he demolished much of Paris and established the many grand boulevards of Paris that we now appreciate as the Paris we see today. I'm pleased that Sue and I decided this time to pay the fee to see inside Palais Garnier. So often you can say, "that's too much too pay as an entry fee", but you travel back home, 1000s of kms and miss a unique experience because of an extra few Euros.
We are richer by being poorer.
I agree full evening dress would have been far more appropriate. :)
ReplyDeleteAn evening dress was very appropriate but I didn't have room in my case for one LLM - just the tiara. Well it was a bicycle helmet really.
DeleteLeon
What a stunning building and interior, my list of to see in Paris keeps getting longer :-) Hope all well over there. D & N
ReplyDeleteDiane, you have so many places on your list from our travels. Things are very well here with spring on the way. I guess you'll be getting the winter doona out soon.
DeleteHow posh! But nice to have a look inside, and thanks for showing us round. We're never likely to go there, so it is nice to have had a 'visit'!
ReplyDeleteHello Vera - Howz the chooks?
DeleteKeep with us - Sue and I love having friends on our travels.
This is on my list of things to do this time in Paris ... So rich and opulent ... I'll definitely be paying the money and how wonderful you were able to capture it on camera.
ReplyDeleteHad to smile at the "We are richer for being poorer" because I'm sure by the time I leave Paris ... I'll indeed be poorer than poor!!
C'est le vie.
Dianne, Can't wait to be reading about your travels in France soon.
DeleteWe have a tradition of having lunch at Galleries Lafayette Cafeteria. Its always the salmon and a glass of white wine.
What an amazingly opulent place, well worth the entrance fee to see it.
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