Grand Théâtre
A neoclassical opera house opened in 1780, its facade carried on a peristyle of twelve Corinthian columns.
History
The Grand Théâtre was commissioned by the Maréchal de Richelieu, governor of Guyenne, and built between 1773 and 1780 by the Parisian architect Victor Louis. It opened on 7 April 1780. Its 88-metre facade is carried on twelve Corinthian columns, topped with twelve stone statues of three Roman goddesses and the nine Greek muses, designed by the sculptor Pierre-François Berruer, who carved four of them himself, his workshop the rest. Inside, the grand staircase with its three flights directly inspired Charles Garnier's design for the Paris Opera. Listed as a historic monument in 1899, the theatre regained its blue, gold and white marble interior decor in 1991. It is now home to the Opéra national de Bordeaux and seats around 1,100.
What to see there
- The peristyle and its twelve Corinthian columns
- The twelve statues of muses and goddesses along the cornice
- The grand staircase, the model for the Paris Opera's own
- Place de la Comédie, which frames the facade in full perspective
Our tip
See the facade lit up in the evening, from Place de la Comédie. Rue Sainte-Catherine begins right next to it.
On our walks
- The historic heart — 2h30 · 5.0 km
Nearby addresses
- Madame Pang — 16 rue de la Devise — Fusion Asian, very well executed, small space, very popular. Reservations advised. 📍
- Maison du glacier — 1 pl. Saint-Pierre — Bordeaux's best ice cream according to many. Queue is justified. 📍
- LouLou — 16 rue de la Croix des Aides — Elegant French brasserie, unpretentious. Good wine list, pleasant terrace. 📍
All our neighbourhood addresses
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