Palais Garnier

The Dance - Jean-Baptiste Carpeaux
The Paris Opera House was commissioned by Napoleon lll in 1861 and designed by Charles Garnier, but its inauguration in 1875 was too late for Napoleon who had died two years previously 

In the frieze E for Emperor N for Napoleon

Designed in the very popular Beaux Arts style of the time, it symbolised the opulence of the Second Empire. The exterior is one of the impressive landmarks in Paris with an interior of grand chandeliers, sweeping marble staircases and gilt decoration. 

Garnier designed a private turnaround carriageway at the back of the building for Napoleon. He could have arrive securely, leave his carriage to await his return, and come and go as he wished.

 The 'Bassin de la Pythie' is situated below the Grand Staircase. Pythia was a high priestess at the Temple of Apollo, Delphi on the slopes of Mount Parnassus - this theatrical entrance flanked on each side by a grand sweeping stairway gives a taste of things to come

The double sided Grand Staircase is made from white Cararra marble with a red and green marble balustrade leading up to the Auditorium and the Grand Foyer

At the top of the stairs is a beautiful marble arcade which has some exquisite Venetian mosaic work within the arches

At the centre is a vaulted ceiling showing paintings by artist Isadore Pils of Apollo, Minerva, and Orpheus.

two images courtesy wiki 

 
The inauguration in 1875

This sumptuous, breath taking, gilded Grand Foyer, was modelled on the Hall of Mirrors at Versailles. The domed ceiling was painted by Paul Baudry to represent various moments in the history of music

A close up of the fine details at the bases of the gilt columns

All of the small side foyers are individually decorated, each one having a different but very striking ceiling.

With the opening of Opéra Bastille in 1989 the Palais Garnier lost its role as the main opera house in Paris. It is now the principal home of ballet although it still does host some opera

In 1960 the French Minister of Cultural Affairs, André Malraux controversially commissioned Marc Chagall to repaint the ceiling in the auditorium. Rather than destroy the original painting by Jules-Eugène Lenepveu, Chagall painted his canvass on a removable frame. Twenty years later, however, the original painting by Lenepveu was removed to the Musée d'Orsay where it is now on display.

Chagall's painting celebrates the music of both opera and ballet by 14 different composers. At its centre is the grand chandelier made of bronze and weighing a staggering 7 tonnes.

♥PARIS♥

Architectural Quiz - the Eiffel Tower - Amy, Olympia, Gina, biebkriebels, Inge, Mark, Mac n' Janet, Catherine, Jim, and last but not least "Britta" were all correct - very well done♡ 

Designed by engineer Alexandre Gustave Eiffel, whose company built the tower as the entrance arch to the 1889 World's Fair. The radical design was criticised by 300 of France's leading artists, architects, and intellectuals who signed the following manifesto - "We, writers, painters, sculptors, architects, passionate lovers of the beauty, until now intact in Paris, hereby protest with all our might, with all our indignation, in the name of French taste gone unrecognised, in the name of French art and history under threat, we are against this construction set in the very heart of our capital - the useless and monstrous Eiffel Tower."

A bride and groom dance beside the Eiffel Tower to the delight of onlookers

Intended to be a temporary structure, the tower has become both a global and cultural icon for France and one of the most recognisable structures in the world. The domed building beyond the tower is the École Militaire - our 18 year old granddaughter attended a black-tie birthday party in there on the evening we flew home from Paris

The École Militaire was founded in 1750 and in 1784 it was where the 15 year old Napoleon Bonaparte was accepted, graduating in only one year instead of two

L'Hôtel National des Invalides

A wonderful Baroque series of buildings housing a Military Museum, Church, Hospital, Retirement Home for war veterans, and the burial site of some of France's war heroes, most notably Napoleon Bonaparte

The stunning golden dome on the church can be seen for miles and is easily recognisable because of its great height and exquisite beauty. Designed by Jules Hardouin-Mansart, French architect, whose work is generally considered to be the apex of Baroque architecture in France representing the power and grandeur of Louis XlV.

Jardin des Invalides - the low building is where war veterans live 

The entrance door to the chapel of Saint-Louis-des-Invalides

De La Foss's allegories painted in the dome

Marble steps lead down to the tomb situated in a sunken rotunda immediately below the dome 

The tomb made from red quartzite resting on a green granite base is huge - Napoleon was initially interred on Saint Helena in 1821, but King Louis-Philippe arranged for his remains to be brought back to France in 1840. 

Historical war trophy banners seized in battle decorate either side of the chapel 

Inner Court housing the Army Museum

The north front of Les Invalides showing Mansart's dome sitting behind Bruant's entrance with its handsome rounded pediment