The novel and its various film and stage adaptations, particularly the 1986 musical, attract many visitors to the fabled Paris opera house. The Paris Opera Garnier is, of course, the famous setting for the 1910 novel by Gaston Leroux, The Phantom of the Opera.

While its exterior is well-known for its rooftop statuary, its interior is filled with frescoes, mosaics, and gilt and marble-covered decorations.īefore exploring the Palais Garnier on your own or with a guided tour, it’s helpful to get to know some of its history. At the time of its opening, the Palais Garnier-Opera featured the largest theater and opera house in the world. Designed by architect Charles Garnier, the Palais Garnier Paris was constructed between 18. My certification is available upon request.A Parisian architectural jewel, the Palais Garnier is an example of Napoleon III architectural style, which ornately combines elements of the Renaissance and Baroque styles. The price of the tour you booked is actually in line with similar tours you can book on Viator or other sites for strictly private tours (only your travel party participated) lead by official licensed guides. I'll contact the Viator Supplier Service to have this confusing term removed as soon as possible. The term 'behind-the-scenes' added by Viator in my description might be ambiguous though and this is why I offer you a full refund of your booking. These forbidden areas can only be visited booking a much more expensive special private tour, that has to be well in advance organized with the administration of the Opera. There was no mention of the backstage areas like the Foyer de la Danse or the subterranean cistern in the foundations of the monument. We visited all the accessible areas, clearly listed in the tour's description. The back entrance is only used by the artists and the administrative staff of the Opera. The tour description mentions a skip-the-line entrance (and we actually entered without any waiting time), but not a private entrance.

There was probably a misunderstanding as to what this specific tour entailed. I'm sorry the tour didn't meet all your expectations.

Paris opera garnier tours