About this place
Inaugurated in 1780, the Grand Théâtre is the masterpiece of the architect Victor Louis, who conceived it as a temple to the arts and to light. Its vast portico of twelve colossal Corinthian columns is crowned by twelve statues, nine Muses and the three goddesses Juno, Venus and Minerva, that announce the music and drama staged within. Raised on the ruins of an ancient Roman temple, it hides a sweeping grand staircase that later inspired Charles Garnier's design for the Paris Opera. Its blue and gold auditorium, restored to its original splendor, still seats around eleven hundred spectators and remains the home of the Bordeaux opera and ballet, making it one of the oldest working wooden framed theatres in Europe.
Key facts
- 1780 year — The opera house was inaugurated after seven years of construction
- 1871 year — The theatre briefly served as the seat of the French National Assembly
- 12 columns — Colossal Corinthian columns form the portico, matched by twelve statues above
📍 Place de la Comédie 2, 33000, Bordeaux