The Théâtre Graslin is an elegant neoclassical opera house from 1788 that anchors the Graslin quarter of the city, facing a handsome square lined with cafés and restaurants. It was one of the first purpose-built opera houses in France and its façade, with eight Corinthian columns, is one of the best examples of late 18th-century civic architecture in Nantes.
The theatre hosts opera, ballet and classical concerts through the season as part of Angers-Nantes Opera, one of the better regional opera companies in France. The interior — gilt, red velvet, and a painted ceiling — is best experienced at a performance, and tickets are generally very accessible compared to Paris.