The Opera House
The sumptuous façade of the Opera House stands just a short walk from the hotel. This masterpiece of 19th-century theatre architecture, built between 1861 and 1875 by Charles Garnier on orders from Napoleon III, has had the status of historical monument since 1923 – it is one of the most prestigious heritage sites in Paris. As the home of opera and dance, it has seen the passage of the world’s greatest artistes, including Maria Callas and Rudolf Nureyev.
It may be visited, which gives the public an opportunity to admire the exceptional Italian-style seating area in red and gold, with room for nearly 2000 people, and its ceiling painted by Marc Chagall, from which is suspended an immense chandelier in crystal and bronze weighing 8 tonnes!