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Avenue de l'Opéra

August 25, 2023

The Avenue de l'Opéra was created from 1864 to 1879 as part of Haussmann's renovation of Paris. It is situated in the center of the city, running northwest from the Louvre to the Palais Garnier, the primary opera house of Paris (until the opening of the Opéra Bastille in 1989).

Avenue de l'Opéra
Avenue de l'Opéra, Paris
Shown within Paris
Length698 m (2,290 ft)
Width30 m (98 ft)
Arrondissement1st, 2nd
QuarterPalais Royal. Place Vendôme. Gaillon.
Coordinates48°52′01.74″N 02°20′01.75″E / 48.8671500°N 2.3338194°E / 48.8671500; 2.3338194
From4 place André Malraux
Toboulevard des Capucines
Construction
Completion1867
Denomination10 December 1873

Description Edit

 
View toward the Opéra

The Avenue de l'Opéra was an important thoroughfare in Haussmann's traffic scheme, since it linked the rue de Rivoli at the Louvre to the grands boulevards near the Opéra and gave better access to the wealthy neighbourhoods being developed at that time in northwest Paris. It had the additional advantage that the demolition required for its construction cleared the area between the Louvre and the grand boulevards, which had been occupied by a slum district, dense with poor-quality housing and numerous narrow streets, that was considered unhealthy and dangerous.[1]

At the avenue's northwest end, in front of the opera house, is the Place de l'Opéra. Besides providing a setting for the imposing Palais Garnier, it is a nexus from which several streets radiate. At the time it was built, it was criticized for being too grandiose, but now with much more traffic, it is often considered too small. Elegant stores selling luxury leather goods and jewelry, and the Café de la Paix, are located here.[2]

 
View toward the Louvre

The avenue itself is very popular with tourists and is lined with shops selling fancy souvenir Parisian merchandise (articles de Paris), as well as travel agencies and banks.[2] A small Japanese district is nearby, in the rue Sainte-Anne.

Unlike most Parisian avenues, there are no trees. This was the result of a compromise between Haussmann and Charles Garnier, the architect of the opera house, who desired the best view possible of the main facade of the Opera at the end of the avenue. He did not want the view to be obstructed by the leaves and branches.

At the avenue's southeast end, near the Louvre, is the Place André Malraux, named after the French writer André Malraux, who had been Minister of Cultural Affairs under Charles de Gaulle. The square was formerly known as the Place du Théâtre Français, after the theatre of the Comédie-Française, which is located here. Adjacent to the theatre is the Palais-Royal, famous for its gardens.[2]

History Edit

Initially, the Butte Saint-Roch was located at the level of the current rue des Pyramides. Joan of Arc installed guns (culverins) on it to support the attack against the Porte Saint-Honoré.[2] The mount was lowered somewhat in 1615, but remained a serious obstacle. The enormous quantity of material produced by the leveling of this hill was used to fill the excavations of the Champ de Mars. Previously one had to descend seven steps to reach the entrance of the church of Saint-Roch, whereas now one must climb thirteen steps.[2]

A decree of 3 May 1854 initiated a project to create an "Avenue Napoléon", running from the Louvre to the place where the rue de la Paix joins the boulevards. However, little progress was made. In the early 1860s, the construction of the new opera house relaunched the project by a decree of 24 August 1864. Work began at each end but proceeded slowly. The fall of the Second Empire in 1870, caused a delay in the work, at least for a while, and in 1873 the boulevard was renamed Avenue de l'Opera. After a public decree of 27 June 1876, work resumed and was quickly completed. The last buildings along the avenue were built in 1879.

Number 22 is the address of the former Hotel des Deux Mondes, which closed in 1940. After the war, it became the Paris field office of the United States Secret Service.

  •  

    1869 map with projected route

  •  

    View of the Place de l'Opéra, c. 1870

  •  

    Drilling of Avenue de l'Opera, 1877

  •  

    1877 map, when nearly completed

  •  

    Avenue de l'Opéra by Camille Pissarro from the Hotel du Louvre, 1898

Metro stations Edit

Trivia Edit

The Avenue de l'Opéra was featured in Louis Aragon's surrealist novel Le Paysan de Paris (The Parisian Peasant).

References Edit

Notes

  1. ^ Ayers 2004, p. 176.
  2. ^ a b c d e Paris Guide (le guide vert), Éditions Michelin, ISBN 2-06-700352-6.

Sources

  • Ayers, Andrew (2004). The Architecture of Paris. Stuttgart; London: Edition Axel Menges. ISBN 978-3-930698-96-7.

External links Edit

  •   Media related to Avenue de l'Opéra at Wikimedia Commons

August 25, 2023
avenue, opéra, created, from, 1864, 1879, part, haussmann, renovation, paris, situated, center, city, running, northwest, from, louvre, palais, garnier, primary, opera, house, paris, until, opening, opéra, bastille, 1989, parisshown, within, parislength698, wi. The Avenue de l Opera was created from 1864 to 1879 as part of Haussmann s renovation of Paris It is situated in the center of the city running northwest from the Louvre to the Palais Garnier the primary opera house of Paris until the opening of the Opera Bastille in 1989 Avenue de l OperaAvenue de l Opera ParisShown within ParisLength698 m 2 290 ft Width30 m 98 ft Arrondissement1st 2ndQuarterPalais Royal Place Vendome Gaillon Coordinates48 52 01 74 N 02 20 01 75 E 48 8671500 N 2 3338194 E 48 8671500 2 3338194From4 place Andre MalrauxToboulevard des CapucinesConstructionCompletion1867Denomination10 December 1873 Contents 1 Description 2 History 3 Metro stations 4 Trivia 5 References 6 External linksDescription Edit View toward the OperaThe Avenue de l Opera was an important thoroughfare in Haussmann s traffic scheme since it linked the rue de Rivoli at the Louvre to the grands boulevards near the Opera and gave better access to the wealthy neighbourhoods being developed at that time in northwest Paris It had the additional advantage that the demolition required for its construction cleared the area between the Louvre and the grand boulevards which had been occupied by a slum district dense with poor quality housing and numerous narrow streets that was considered unhealthy and dangerous 1 At the avenue s northwest end in front of the opera house is the Place de l Opera Besides providing a setting for the imposing Palais Garnier it is a nexus from which several streets radiate At the time it was built it was criticized for being too grandiose but now with much more traffic it is often considered too small Elegant stores selling luxury leather goods and jewelry and the Cafe de la Paix are located here 2 View toward the LouvreThe avenue itself is very popular with tourists and is lined with shops selling fancy souvenir Parisian merchandise articles de Paris as well as travel agencies and banks 2 A small Japanese district is nearby in the rue Sainte Anne Unlike most Parisian avenues there are no trees This was the result of a compromise between Haussmann and Charles Garnier the architect of the opera house who desired the best view possible of the main facade of the Opera at the end of the avenue He did not want the view to be obstructed by the leaves and branches At the avenue s southeast end near the Louvre is the Place Andre Malraux named after the French writer Andre Malraux who had been Minister of Cultural Affairs under Charles de Gaulle The square was formerly known as the Place du Theatre Francais after the theatre of the Comedie Francaise which is located here Adjacent to the theatre is the Palais Royal famous for its gardens 2 History EditInitially the Butte Saint Roch was located at the level of the current rue des Pyramides Joan of Arc installed guns culverins on it to support the attack against the Porte Saint Honore 2 The mount was lowered somewhat in 1615 but remained a serious obstacle The enormous quantity of material produced by the leveling of this hill was used to fill the excavations of the Champ de Mars Previously one had to descend seven steps to reach the entrance of the church of Saint Roch whereas now one must climb thirteen steps 2 A decree of 3 May 1854 initiated a project to create an Avenue Napoleon running from the Louvre to the place where the rue de la Paix joins the boulevards However little progress was made In the early 1860s the construction of the new opera house relaunched the project by a decree of 24 August 1864 Work began at each end but proceeded slowly The fall of the Second Empire in 1870 caused a delay in the work at least for a while and in 1873 the boulevard was renamed Avenue de l Opera After a public decree of 27 June 1876 work resumed and was quickly completed The last buildings along the avenue were built in 1879 Number 22 is the address of the former Hotel des Deux Mondes which closed in 1940 After the war it became the Paris field office of the United States Secret Service 1869 map with projected route View of the Place de l Opera c 1870 Drilling of Avenue de l Opera 1877 1877 map when nearly completed Avenue de l Opera by Camille Pissarro from the Hotel du Louvre 1898Metro stations Edit Located near the Metro stations Palais Royal Musee du Louvre Pyramides and Opera Trivia EditThe Avenue de l Opera was featured in Louis Aragon s surrealist novel Le Paysan de Paris The Parisian Peasant References EditNotes Ayers 2004 p 176 a b c d e Paris Guide le guide vert Editions Michelin ISBN 2 06 700352 6 Sources Ayers Andrew 2004 The Architecture of Paris Stuttgart London Edition Axel Menges ISBN 978 3 930698 96 7 External links Edit Media related to Avenue de l Opera at Wikimedia Commons Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Avenue de l 27Opera amp oldid 1089331605, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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