Fancy opera houses like the Palais Garnier were designed for more than just watching a performance. The open balconies and winding staircases were meant to encourage people-watching, especially among the upper class. Commissioned by Napoleon III as part of his grand, transformative renovation of Paris, the Palais Garnier first opened on this day in 1875. Immediately upon opening its doors, it became the place to see and be seen—and to be surrounded by opulence. The domed ceiling shown here was painted by Marc Chagall in 1964, covering the original ceiling paintings by artist Jules Lenepveu. Chagall’s colorful, dreamlike work stretches nearly 2,600 square feet and depicts scenes from operas by 14 different composers, including Beethoven and Debussy.
Art abounds at the Palais Garnier
Today in History
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Arbor Day
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Mont-Saint-Michel
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Earth at Perihelion
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Take the Stairs Day
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European hedgehog in Sussex, England
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Star Wars Day
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Space-age style by the sea
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Mountains fit for a queen
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Big-wave hunters watch Nazaré
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National Park Week: Canyonlands National Park, Utah
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Surf s up—Down Under
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Innerdalsvatna Lake, near Ålvundeidet, Norway
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Hollywood s big night
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The story of the poinsettia
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World Bamboo Day
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Wicker fields in Cañamares, Spain
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Bird s-eye view on World Environment Day
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Great horned owl near Lake Tohopekaliga, Florida
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Glendurgan Garden hedge maze is 186 years old
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A gorge-ous mill in the Causses
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Nha Phu Bay, Nha Trang, Vietnam
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Red lechwe, Okavango Delta, Botswana
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Bonsai Rock, Lake Tahoe, Nevada
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World Whale Day
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Classical music takes center stage
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Moselle River loop near Kröv, Germany
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Hezké svátky
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Remembering Krakatoa