After an assassination attempt in front of a Paris theatre in 1858, the emperor Napoleon decided to construct a new opera house in a safer neighborhood. He chose an area just northwest and commissioned architect Garnier with designing the new structure. Numerous complexities arose, the most daunting of which was how to build the immense structure on an underground water table. The resulting network of tunnels and substructures would later serve as the setting for Gaston Leroux’ Phantom of the Opéra. However, the opera house would not be inaugurated until 1875 due to a lack of funding. Just in front of the recently renovated structure, Place de l’Opéra marks the convergence of two of the right bank’s busiest thoroughfares: the cross-town Grands Boulevards and Boulevard Haussmann. The latter is home to two of Paris’ renowned department stores, Galleries Lafayettes and Printemps. To the left of the Opéra is the Grand-Hôtel which was built for the Universal Exposition of 1867.
At the foot of the Opéra is Café de la Paix whose regular clients over the years included authors Guy de Maupassant, Emile Zola and their entourages. Nearby, Palais Brongniart serves as home to the Paris stock exchange. Place Vendôme, with its majestic statue dedicated to the Napoleonic armies, is now the home of the most renowned jewellers of Paris such as Cartier and Maubusson. The famous Hôtel Ritz is located at 15, Place Vendôme. And just to the north are the Church of the Madeleine and the exclusive épicieries of Fauchon, Hédiard, and Laduree.
Boulevard Haussmann for Galeries Lafayettes and Printemps department stores.
Not too much to point out ever since rue St Anne lost its gay neighborhood status to the Marais.
Colette, of course, for everything that is ‘in’ and its very chic water bar/restaurant. Plus, the Conran Shop for its ever-perfect selection of home objects.
