Situated in Paris’ 9th arrondissement, Opera is a mix of contemporary and traditional Paris. Known for its rich cultural, historical and architectural interest, the area epitomises the grandeur of Parisian style with both newcomers and native Parisians are settled here. The area is home to popular fashion and department stores and admired for its Opera theatre building that redefines high Parisian culture.
By exploring the area, you’ll experience the true spirit of its extraordinary liveliness, art and exuberant century old buildings. You can enjoy a day out by visiting its streetscapes cinemas, traditional restaurants, huge performance spaces, buzzing bars and nightclubs. The area is accessible by metro and the nearby stations where you can jump on and off are Opéra (line 3, 7, 8), Chausetted’Antin La Fayette (line 7, 9), and Grands Boulevards (line 8, 9).
Here is a list of popular attractions in Opera:
Each attraction has its distinct charm and character and Opera is home several beautiful attractions and world famous sights. If you are planning for a family holiday or a weekend of sightseeing, Opera is the great place to explore and experience Paris’ old centre.
Le Grand Rex: Le Grand Rex is a huge and beautifully decorated cinema, popular for its opulent and outsized main auditorium, making it the largest cinema theatre in Europe with a sitting capacity of 2,650. Its wedding-cake exterior design and fairytale theme interior on both sides of the screen is most interesting part. To understand more about this historic cinema, you can tour behind the scene and see a presentation about the construction of the auditorium and the production room.
Eglise de la Madeleine: A splendid Roman catholic church, Eglise de la Madeleine is dedicated to St. Mary Magdalena. The building was constructed in neo-classical design in the form of a Greek temple without any crosses or bell-towers. This magnificent church is adorned with attractive sculptures, paintings and the famous neo-Byzantine mosaic while there are 25 Corinthian columns around the entire exterior of the building. Many concerts, religious services and weddings parties are celebrated here throughout the year.
Opera Garnier: Built from 1861 to 1875, Opera is a treasured and renowned centre for ballet and classical music performances. This 19th century marvel is perhaps the most opulent building in Paris, designed by Charles Garnier in the popular Beaux Arts style. The opera house is decorated with heavy glass chandeliers, marble staircases and gilt decorations with 2,000 seating capacity.
Galeries Lafayette: An upmarket French department flagship store located on Boulevard Haussmann. This glittery, opulent and huge shopping mall organises free fashion shows for visitors weekly. Lafayette is a symbol of French lifestyle and offers all the latest fashion brands under the same roof. This enchanted wonderland for shoppers has modern interior design and lots of fashionable labels, making your visit to Lafayette an unforgettable experience.
Where to stay?
Opera is centrally situated and is a popular choice for visitors. Full of grand architectures, you will find combination of luxury hotels and premium serviced apartments. The historical theatres, chic restaurants, buzzing bars and renowned shopping stores make the location a perfect spot for a short stay in Paris.
