Grand Théâtre de Bordeaux

One of France's finest neoclassical opera houses, built in 1780 and still in use

The Grand Théâtre is one of the most beautiful opera houses in Europe, built between 1773 and 1780 to designs by Victor Louis. The facade of twelve Corinthian columns, topped by twelve statues of the Muses and Graces, is one of the finest examples of French neoclassical architecture. It still serves as Bordeaux's principal venue for opera, ballet, and classical concerts.

Guided tours of the interior are available on certain days and are worth doing — the auditorium, with its ring of columns and painted ceiling, is exceptional, and the grand staircase is one of the great theatrical spaces in France. The theatre stands on the Place de la Comédie, a pedestrianised square that makes a natural gathering point in the city centre.

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A story
The Grand Théâtre was one of the inspirations for Charles Garnier when he designed the Paris Opéra in the 1860s. Garnier reportedly said that the Bordeaux theatre was his model. The interior has a grand staircase that Garnier's opera house replicated almost exactly — which means that anyone who has climbed the staircase at the Paris Opéra has effectively walked through a reimagining of this building.