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It was often also called the Paris Opera, but since the building of the Opera Bastille in 1989, it is referred to as the Opera Garnier.

It was built on the orders of Napoleon III as part of the great Parisian reconstruction project carried out by Baron Haussmann. The project was put out to competition and was won by Charles Garnier (1825-1898), a then unknown 35-year-old architect. He would go on to also build the Opera Garnier de Monte-Carlo in Monaco.

Building work, which began in 1857 and finished in 1874, was interrupted by numerous incidents, including the Franco-Prussian War, the fall of the Empire and the Paris Commune. Another problem was the discovery of an underground lake beneath the site. This required the construction of an underground reservoir below the building. This lake later inspired The Phantom of the OperaThe Phantom of the Opera is a novel by Gaston Leroux, inspired by George du Maurier's Trilby''. Published in 1910, it has since been adapted many times as films and stage productions. Adaptations Stage The Phantom of the Opera ( 1984): Musical by Ken Hill's lair. The Palais Garnier was formally inaugurated on January 15January 15 is the 15th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. There are 350 days remaining (351 in leap years). Events 1559 Elizabeth I of England is crowned in Westminster Abbey. 1582 Russia cedes Livonia and Estonia to Poland. 1759 The British Museu, 1875Events January 12 Kwang-su becomes emperor of China. February 27 Newton Booth, 11th Governor of California resigns, having been elected Senator. Lieutenant Governor of California Romualdo Pacheco becomes acting Governor. He is later replaced by elected go.

The large building has a total area of 11,000 square meters (118,404 square feet) and a huge stage with room to accommodate up to 450 artists. An ornate building, the style is monumental, opulently decorated with elaborate multicolored marble friezes, columns, and lavish statuary. The interior too is rich with velvet, gold leaf, and cherubs and nymphs. The auditorium's central chandelier weighs over eight tons, and its ceiling was painted in 1964Events January January 1 Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland is dissolved. January 3 Senator Barry Goldwater announces that he will seek the Republican nomination for President. January 5 In the first meeting between leaders of the Roman Catholic and Ort by Marc ChagallMarc Chagall ( July 7, 1887 March 28, 1985) was a Belarusian painter of Jewish origin. Biography He was born Moishe Zakharovich Shagalov (Moishe Segal) in Vitsebsk, Russian Empire (now in Belarus) the eldest of eight children. His mother's name was Felga-.

Legend has it that the Empress Eugénie asked Garnier whether the building was to be in Greek or Roman style to which he replied: It is in the Napoléon III style Madame!

It is currently used for ballet performances. Paris's primary opera house is now the Opera Bastille.