Paris - Ile De France
Opera Bastille - Opera National de Paris
Opera Bastille built for the Bicentenary of the French Revolution
The Opera Bastille was inaugurated in 1989 to commemorate the bicentenary of the French Revolution.
It complements the lavish Opéra Garnier, which is now entirely devoted to ballet, as it produces most operas and shows.
The Opera Bastille overlooks the historical Place de la Bastille, which marks the boundary between the 4th, 11th and 12th district.
Opera Bastille's contemporay architecture
The Canadian-Uruguyan architect Carlos Ott designed the controversial contemporary building.
Several local residents associations indeed objected to the project. They argued that the glass and steel curvilinear facade would ruin the appearance of the historic Place de la Bastille.
This facade is purposely smooth and plain to be less intimidating than the lavish Opéra Garnier's. It's therefore devoid of any ornament, sculpture, loggias, balconies, columns, sculptures and gilding.
Construction began in 1984 on the site of the Gare de la Bastille, a railway station disused since 1969.
The Opera Bastille has a capacity of 2700 seats that all benefit from the same acoustic quality and an auditorium fitted with a system of rotating stages.
An interesting building to discover if you like contemporary architecture.
Directions: 12th District
Metro: Bastille on lines 1, 5, 8
Coordinates: Lat 48.851944 - Long 2.370556
Sorbonne Chapel and Cardinal de Richelieu tomb
Villa Seurat, a showcase of Modernist architecture
Rue de la Gaite in Montparnasse
Pont de la Concorde in Paris
Sign up to our newsletter
Travel France Online will use the information you provide on this form to keep in touch with you and to provide updates via our newsletter. By selecting the boxes on the form you confirm your acceptance to receive our newsletter.
You can change your mind at any time by clicking the unsubscribe link in the footer of any email you receive from us, or by Contacting Us
We will treat your information with respect. For more information please visit our privacy policy page