Paris

No doubt the best example of the architectural splendour of the Second Empire, the Garnier Opera is one of the largest old opera houses (11,000 square meters).

The musée d'Orsay was redeveloped in the old Gare d'Orsay, built by Victor Laloux and inaugurated in 1900 for the Universal Exhibition. It was registered as a listed building in 1978.
The museum was opened in December 1986 and was dedicated to all artistic production from 1848 to 1914. Paintings, pastels, sculptures, furniture and objets d'art, photography and documentary objects reflect the richness and diversity of this era.

Installed on a domain of more than 40 hectares right in the heart of Paris, on a right bank of the Seine, the museum of the Louvre offers approximately 60 000 m ² of showrooms dedicated to the conservation of representative objects of 11 millenniums of civilization and culture.

The temple built as a monument to the Great Army was commissioned in 1806 by Napoleon from the architect Barthelemy Vignon after the construction of the church had been successively taken up by Contant d'Ivry in 1794 on the model of St Louis des Invalides, then by Couture on the model of the Pantheon, before being interrupted between 1790 and 1806.
This stout Greek Temple was constructed in the dimensions required by the Emperor and is supported by Corinthian columns of 30 meters high.

During the restoration the building became a Catholic church.
The interior is richly decorated and includes Napoleon amongst the saints of Christian history.
Around the church, on every day except Monday, there is a superb flower market.
A vestige of art deco not to be missed - the public toilets on the corner of the Boulevard de la Madeleine! Gourmets the world over visit the famous "Fauchon" on the Northeast corner.
On the sidewalk opposite "Hédiard" and the caviar stores and restaurants complete this gastronomic route.