Fans of The Phantom of the Opera, here's a treat for you: the novel and musical are based on a real opera house in the heart of Paris. I recently went, and it was magical--also, if you're in Paris and unable to visit Versailles, the 19th century Palais Garnier offers a similar level of opulence.
Tickets are 14 euros for adults, for a self-guided tour, and I would recommend spending about an hour and a half there. Since it's in the 9th arrondissement, and near several different metro stops (as well as the Saint-Lazare train station), you don't need to make a special trip to visit; neither do you need to book in advance. I will warn you, though, that I went midday on a weekday, and it was quite crowded. This was during the summer, however, and Paris was packed--during the off-season, touring the opera is a much more relaxing activity.
First off, you will walk up a grand staircase--famous not just for the musical's Masquerade scene, but a scene from the first season of Emily in Paris, as well. Although the staircase looks simply "classical" to the untrained eye, the opera's architect--Charles Garnier--actually designed the building as a mismatch blend of various influences. He coined the term "Napoleon III" to describe his approach, and this is now a legitimate term in architecture today.
Once you've walked up the staircase, it's time to see the theatre itself. Although you cannot meander freely throughout it, a couple boxes are open for your viewing pleasure. It really does look just like Andrew Webber's Opera Populaire! Except for one stunning feature--its ceiling, painted by the renowned Marc Chagall.
Visit box 5, the Phantom's seating of choice. You're not able to go in, but the box has a plaque on the door to pay homage to its most famous theatergoer. Although not open to the public, the opera house is also home to an underground cistern--off of which the Phantom's lair is based--and a rooftop, complete with the horse statue he hides behind in All I Ask of You. The famous chandelier scene is based off of a real accident in 1896, when the chandelier broke from one of its counterweights and plunged into the seating, killing a person.
The opera house is open every day from 10 am to 5 pm, except on days with an afternoon performance. The last entry is 45 minutes before closure.
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