Opéra Garnier - a neoclassical opera house in Paris, France.

The Opéra Garnier is one of the city's top tourist attractions and also one of the most important opera houses in the world.

The opera house was designed by Charles Garnier, a French architect who won a competition to design it. The architectural style of the building is eclecticism, combining elements of Baroque and Neo-Renaissance styles.

It was rebuilt to the order of Napoleon III between 1861 and 1875, as part of the rebuilding of Paris known as the Haussmann Modernization. Construction took as long as 14 years, and the cost of the entire project was 36 million francs.

The Opéra Garnier is an example of neoclassical architecture and is characterized by its impressive dimensions and rich ornamentation. The facade of the building is decorated with beautiful sculptures and columns, and its main motif is Greek mythology.

The building consists of two floors and a basement with technical rooms and storage areas. Inside there are numerous halls and chambers, which are decorated with marble, gold and precious stones.

Of particular note is the Grand Foyer, or main hall of the building, which is decorated with rich frescoes and marble columns. It also features exquisite crystal chandeliers and beautiful sculptures. Especially noteworthy is the huge crystal chandelier, which weighs 8 tons and has a diameter of 8 meters.

Another famous room is the Salle des Pas Perdus, or entrance hall, which is decorated with marble columns and frescoes depicting Greek motifs.

The main attraction of the Opéra Garnier is, of course, the concert hall, or Salle Garnier. It is an impressive venue that can accommodate more than 2,000 spectators. The interior of the hall is decorated with gold, marble and crystal, and the ceiling depicts Greek motifs. The hall is also equipped with a richly decorated stage and orchestra.

The Opéra Garnier has impressive dimensions - it is 172 meters long, 101 meters wide and 56 meters high. About 60,000 cubic meters of stone and concrete were used for the construction.

The building is supported by 36 columns and 28 pilasters, and there are numerous sculptures on the roof, including allegories of music and dance.

The building was damaged during World War II, but managed to be rebuilt and restored in the 1960s.

The Opéra Garnier is a venue for various cultural events, such as concerts, ballets and opera performances.

The Opéra Garnier is also the site of many legends and curiosities. One of the most famous is the story of a ghoul said to live in the basement of the building. This legend inspired Gaston Leroux to write the novel "The Phantom of the Opera."

The opera house has also been the setting of many novels, including "Action at the Arsenal" by Henryk Sienkiewicz.