Opéra Garnier
Haunt of the "Phantom of the Opera" and the real-life inspiration for Edgar Degas's paintings of dancers, the gorgeous Opéra Garnier is one of two homes of the National Opera of Paris. The building, the Palais Garnier, was begun in 1860 by then-unknown architect Charles Garnier, who finished his masterwork 15 long years later, way over budget. Festooned with (real) gold leaf, colored marble, paintings, and sculpture from the top artists of the day, the opera house was about as subtle as Versailles and sparked controversy in post-Revolutionary France. The sweeping marble staircase, in particular, drew criticism from a public skeptical of its extravagance. But Garnier, determined to make a landmark that would last forever, spared no expense. The magnificent grand foyer is one of the most exquisite salons in France. In its heyday, the cream of Paris society strolled all 59 yards of the vast hall at intermission, admiring themselves in the towering mirrors. To see the opera house, buy a ticket for an unguided visit, which allows access to most parts of the building, including a peek into the auditorium. There is also a small ballet museum with a few works by Degas and the tutu worn by prima ballerina Anna Pavlova when she danced her epic Dying Swan in 1905. To get to it, pass through the unfinished entrance built for Napoléon III and his carriage (construction was abruptly halted when the emperor abdicated in 1870). On the upper level, you can see a sample of the auditorium's original classical ceiling, which was later replaced with a modern version painted by a septuagenarian Marc Chagall. His trademark willowy figures encircling the dazzling crystal chandelier—today the world's third largest—shocked an unappreciative public upon its debut in 1964. Critics who fret that Chagall's masterpiece clashes with the fussy crimson-and-gilt decor can take some comfort in knowing that the original ceiling is preserved underneath, encased in a plastic dome.
The Opéra Garnier hosts the Paris Ballet and a number of operas each season (others are performed at the Opéra Bastille). Tickets cost anywhere from €12 to €230 and should be reserved as soon as they go on sale—typically a month ahead at the box office, earlier by phone or online; otherwise, you can try your luck at last-minute tickets sold at the box office from 11:30 am on the day of the performance (€10). To learn about the building's history and get a taste of aristocratic life during the Second Empire, choose from three entertaining English-language tours (daily at 10:30 am, 11:30 am, and 5 pm; €23–€26) or take a self-guided tour (€15) and proceed at your own pace. To complete the experience, dine at Coco—an over-the-top Belle Époque folie recalling the glamorous 1920s—or browse through the Palais Garnier gift shop for ballet-inspired wares, fine Bernardaud porcelain depicting the famous Chagall ceiling, honey from the Opéra's own rooftop hives, and an exceptional selection of themed books.
