Palais Garnier
The Palais Garnier (French: [palɛ ɡaʁnje] , "Garnier Palace"), also known as Opéra Garnier (French: [ɔpeʁa ɡaʁnje] , "Garnier Opera"), is a historic 1,979-seat opera house at the Place de l'Opéra in the 9th arrondissement of Paris, France. It was built for the Paris Opera from 1861 to 1875 at the behest of Emperor Napoleon III. Initially referred to as le nouvel Opéra de Paris (the new Paris Opera), it soon became known as the Palais Garnier, "in acknowledgment of its extraordinary opulence" and the architect Charles Garnier's plans and designs, which are representative of the Napoleon III style.