Home World Paris' Iconic Opera House Celebrates 150 Years

Paris’ Iconic Opera House Celebrates 150 Years

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Taken by a fish-eye lens, this photograph shows the grand staircase of the Palais Garnier in Paris on Dec. 9, 2024. Joel Saget/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Joel Saget/AFP via Getty Images

Taken by a fish-eye lens, this photograph shows the grand staircase of the Palais Garnier in Paris on Dec. 9, 2024.

Joel Saget/AFP via Getty Images

Commissioned by Napoleon, the opulent Opera Garnier is named after its architect, Charles Garnier. Garnier rose from the Paris slums to design one of Europe’s most celebrated venues. Opera Garnier eventually became the inspiration for the novel and musical, “Phantom of the Opera.”

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