Opéra: origin of the name and station history
Served by: metro lines 3, 7 and 8.
Why this name?
The station takes its name from the Opéra Garnier, built by Charles Garnier, which it serves. It is shared by lines 3, 7 and 8, on the border of the Gaillon and Chaussée-d'Antin districts, and the three lines cross thanks to a common underground structure under the square. Line 3 opened with its first section; on line 7 the station was a terminus until the extension to Palais-Royal on 1 July 1916. Underground passages link it to Auber station (RER A).
Anecdote
From the early 1970s to 2007, lines 7 and 8 had a unique decor in three shades of blue, nicknamed « la piscine » (the swimming pool), with the station name in large raised white letters; it disappeared during the « Renouveau du métro » programme. An April Fools' joke once renamed the station « Apéro », by anagram. The rue Scribe entrance keeps a Guimard surround listed as a historic monument.
Audio guide
The Paris Opera, amasterpiece by Charles Garnier
Inaugurated in 1875, the Palais Garnier is an eclectic masterpiece commissioned by Napoleon III from the architect Charles Garnier. Its construction began in 1861, overcoming complex technical challenges such as a high water table that inspired the legend of the underground lake of the Phantom of the Opera. A flamboyant symbol of Haussmann's works, this temple of lyrical art dazzles with its Grand Marble Staircase and its splendid Second Empire. In 1964, Marc Chagall painted his famous modern ceiling here. The historic heart of dance in Paris, the building is now about to undergo major renovations.
An international competition was opened in 1860 : 171 architects participated, and Charles Garnier, 35, was proclaimed the winner on May 30, 1861. The first stone was laid on July 21, 1862, after the underground aquifer had dried up. The Italian-style hall welcomes 2,101 spectators, and the Grand Staircase is a place of spectacle in its own right, which can be seen from the balconies. The building cost just over thirty-five million gold francs.
Around Opéra
- Palais Garnier, 80 m away — A sumptuous opera house opened in 1875, famous for its monumental staircase and ceiling painted by Chagall.
- Galeries Lafayette, 300 m away — An iconic department store topped by a listed Art Nouveau glass dome.
- Café de la Paix, 10 m away — A historic café frequented by writers and artists since 1862, facing the Palais Garnier.