At his time, the construction of the opera house was sporadic, and some people even said that the place might be abandoned.īy October 29 1873, a good thing came to the Palais Garnier. Also, the Franco-Prussian War took place. It required eight months for the water to be pumped out at the area. One of the biggest problems encountered was the postponement of putting the concrete foundation because the ground was swampy and overflowed water from the subterranean lake. The construction of the opera house went through so many delays.

During the same year, the foundation stone was laid, as the construction began in 1862. An architectural design competition was held for the project in 1861 wherein architect Charles Garnier won. In 1858, Napoleon III allowed Haussmann to clear the land which measured 12,000 square meters so that the second theatre for the famous Parisian Opera and Ballet companies can be built. He picked Baron Haussmann to look over the reconstruction. The plan for the Palais Garnier was that it be included in the great reconstruction of Paris in the Second Empire which was headed by Emperor Napoleon III. It was on Januwhen the Palais Garnier was inaugurated. It was interrupted by different happenings, which includes the 1870 war, fall of the Empire, and also the Commune. The construction of the building was from 1860 to 1875, 15 years. The project to make an opera house became a competition wherein Charles Garnier, a 35-year old unknown architect won. The whole plan was included in the great Parisian reconstruction project executed by Baron Haussmann. It was constructed as ordered by Napoleon III. The Palais Garner is the 13th theatre to cater to the Paris Opera since it was introduced to the public by Louis XIV in 1669.

Paris opera house hours