The Opéra de Lyon on Place de la Comédie is one of France's most distinctive opera houses — a neoclassical 19th-century shell surmounted by a dramatic black glass semicylinder designed by Jean Nouvel in 1993. The exterior contrast between the stone base and the glass superstructure is startling; the interior has been entirely rebuilt with six floors of rehearsal rooms, studios, and a 1,100-seat auditorium.
The Opéra has one of the best reputations in France for adventurous programming — it was among the first French houses to stage contemporary opera alongside the classical repertoire. The guided tour (available when performances allow) takes in the main auditorium, the backstage areas, and the rooftop terrace with fine views over central Lyon.