Visit the Opera Garnier in Paris : Les Cars Rouges takes you there16.05.2010

The Opéra Garnier was built by Napoléon III and officially unveiled by President Mac Mahon on January 5th, 1875. It has been listed as historical monument since 1923.

It is one of the most prestigious monuments in Paris and more than 80 000 music scores and books are to be found in its librairy, as well as some 25,000 models of costumes and sceneries for operas and ballets.
 
Beneath the building, architect Charles Garnier constructed an underground lake to hold in check the pressure created by leaking ground water, which was causing damage and delays during the construction.
The mystery of this lake, the double walls around it and the discovery of a squeletton, inspired Gaston Leroux's novel in 1925 "The Ghost of the Opera", which was later to inspire Brian de Palma's movie "Phantom of the Paradise".
 
The great staircase, foyers, museum and the temporary exhibition hall can be visited freely every day from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm (last admission 4:30 pm). Guided tours are also available.

Les Cars Rouges' circuit takes you very close to the visitor's entrance on the corner of Scribe and Auber (see stop n° 6), so don't miss an exciting visit to this magnificent monument!
 
For further information: http://www.operadeparis.fr/cns11/live/onp/pratique/visites/index.php?&lang=en