You can opt for a guided or self-guided tour of the Opéra. If you like classical sculptures referencing mythology and ornate, gilded architecture, you definitely should go inside the Palais Garnier.įortunately, there’s no need to watch a show to take in all of the Palais Garnier’s glamour. That’s Apollo, Greek god of music and dance (and the sun and other things), holding a golden lyre with the figures of Poetry and Music by his side.

Besides the sculptures embedded into the front of the palace, you’ll notice gold winged statues on either side of the roof and a central sculptural group at the very top. It’s heavily decorated all along the many-columned facade. But the building has had a few names over the years, including “National Academy of Music,” which you can see emblazoned on the front in gold letters as “Académie Nationale de Musique.”īefore going inside, take a moment to admire the exterior. The name Garnier is a nod to the architect behind the building, Charles Garnier. You’ll find it referred to as the Palais Garnier or the Opéra Garnier. This famous opera house is too big for one name. In reality, the “lake” is actually a cistern used to manage the groundwater below the building’s foundations. What we do know is that the eerie subterranean reservoir inspired the French writer behind the “Phantom of the Opéra” novel, who decided to set the phantom’s lair there. Rumor has it, French firefighters use it to practice mock rescues here. Unfortunately, no one (guests and employees alike) have access to it.

Yes, there’s an underground “lake” at the Opéra Garnier. The Mysterious Underground Lake of the Paris Opera House You can take a Phantom-themed tour of the opera house to see for yourself. While the story is fictional, the setting was inspired by the beautiful maze-like interior of the Paris Opéra. The famous tale of a haunting love triangle was a hit on Broadway and in England. And if you were curious, the very first opera performed here was “La Juive,” a five-act libretto featuring forbidden love, vengeance, and plenty of dramatic arias.Īnd what about that connection to the Phantom of the Opera connection? The famous play is based on none other than the Opéra Garnier in Paris. The Opéra dates back to the mid-19th century when French architect Charles Garnier designed the building in the Second Empire Style, a term used to describe architecture heavily influenced by the Italian Renaissance.

Paris opera house charles garnier