In 1858, Felice Orsini, an Italian revolutionary tried to assassinate Napoleon III.
The imperial couple ( the emperor Napoleon III and the empress Eugénie) escaped the bombing attack in front of the Opera Le Pelletier.
The bomb caused terrible damage among the crowd.
Napoleon III, decided the next day the construction of a new building. He wanted the new opera to embody the magnificence of the empire and to meet the luxurious pleasures of the imperial court.
An international competition was launched to designate the architect.
In 1861, the project of the young architect Charles Garnier was selected among 171 proposals.
Charles Garnier was then only 35 years old !
The baron Haussmann was prefect of Paris and was chosen by Napoleon III to carry out a massive urban renewal program in the capital.
The construction of the new building began in 1867 out of sight behind tall fences.
In 1867, the main facade was unveiled. The empress Eugénie exclaimed: “What sort of style is that? this is neither Greek, nor Louis XIV or Louis XVI!” to which Charles Garnier responded: “this is Napoleon III”.
The construction was interrupted by the war of 1870 and the fall of the second empire.
The inauguration of the building took place on January 5, 1875 in the presence of the President of the Republic, Mac-Mahon.
Napoleon III, who died two years ago, will not see the building he ordered.

Marc Chagall’s superb ceiling above the stage and auditorium features famous opera and ballet productions.
The acoustics of the hall is essentially due to the construction.
The beautiful chandelier of the opera weighs 8 tons of pure bronze and crystal. In 1896 the chandelier fell on the audience killing one person.
Since 1982, four hives are installed on the roof of the building. The production of honey is sold in the Opera shop.

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