PARIS OPERA HOUSE TOUR FULL

I am always about giving my clients the most unique and most exclusive experiences I can come up with. I have to say what I love about the Palais Garnier is that here you have this world renowned opera house, steeped in tradition and closely guarded secrets of underground lakes and hidden cellars, an institution unto itself … and it just happens to have one of the most forward-thinking, young and dynamic teams I’ve had the pleasure to work with in Paris.

PARIS OPERA HOUSE TOUR FULL

So, just imagine what it was like when I received an invitation to do an exclusive tour – a full on, all-access tour of this one place that I have held in such high regard, and been completely intimidated by, since my arrival to the City of Light. Gaston Leroux’s Phantom of the Opéra, which is based on this very opera house, certainly took the mystique to epic proportions.

This mythic place of ballerinas, and the occasional opera, holds its secrets close. It is the exclusivity of the Opéra Garnier that has always intrigued me the most. The entirety of the Palais Garnier is, quite simply, a masterpiece. And, of course, who can deny the vivid beauty of Marc Chagall’s ceiling perfectly lit by the six ton chandelier Charles Garnier himself designed to illuminate his celebrated opera house. The Grand Foyer is breath taking as you stroll through it, losing yourself to the exquisite beauty of every story, person and myth represented on the painted ceiling and gilded light fixtures. Standing quietly at the bottom of the stairs you can imagine the ladies in their ankle-length evening gowns being very risqué lifting their dresses ever so slightly to reveal their ankles as they climbed the steps to the performance hall… Marble from all over the world, in varying colors, beckons you to reach out and touch the smooth bannisters as you walk the steps of the Grand Staircase. There is a sense of history and of complete exclusivity that engulfs you when you enter this building.

When I moved to Paris years ago I visited the Garnier and just could not believe the beauty before me. Legend has it that the Emperor’s wife, the Empress Eugénie, who was thought to be peeved that Garnier had been chosen over her favourite designer Viollet-le-Duc, asked the relatively unknown Garnier: “What is this? It’s not a style it’s neither Louis Quatorze, nor Louis Quinze, nor Louis Seize!” “Why Ma’am, it’s Napoleon Trois” replied Garnier “and you’re complaining!” To make sure this majestic 13th opera house stands the test of time there is now an in-house team of pompiers (french firefighters) on duty and keeping watch over the Palais Garnier 24 hours a day.

Twelve opera houses came before the Garnier, of which 11 went up in flames and the 12th just didn’t make the cut to be worthy of 19th century France. The Garnier was commissioned by Napoleon III to be built by the architect Charles Garnier.

The Palais Garnier is a visually stunning building so full of intricate architectural detail and majesty that I simply cannot think of another place in Paris that rivals it. There is a place in Paris so beautiful, so magical in its timeless detail, that it moves me every time I visit it. Lisa Buros-Hutchins goes back stage at this very famous Paris landmark… It was the cultural centre of Paris in the Belle Epoque years and continues to wow visitors with the ballets that are performed on its illustrious stage. The Paris Opera House or Palais Garnier is one of Paris’ most magnificent buildings, a place of mirrors, gilt, lush and plush accoutrements.

Paris opera house tour