Bordeaux Grand Theatre, Bordeaux

Bordeaux Grand Theatre, Bordeaux (must see)

The Grand Th茅芒tre de Bordeaux is located on the grand Comedy Square, adjacent to Esprit des Lois Street, in the city鈥檚 cultured Grands Hommes quarter. Inaugurated in 1780, it was designed by renowned French architect, Victor Louis, who won the commission after earning the Grand Prix de Rome, a scholarship scheme for gifted young artists and architects. The young architect went on to design the famous Theatre-Fran莽ais in Paris.

Victor Louis鈥� vision for the Grand Th茅芒tre in Bordeaux was certainly ambitious 鈥� conceived as a Temple of the Arts, it has a wide portico entrance, complimenting the building鈥檚 Neoclassical design. The entrance features 12 colossal Corinthian-style columns, each topped with a statue, representing the nine Muses and three Goddesses 鈥� Juno, Venus and Minerva.

The theater's interior is arguably equal to its spectacular exterior. Its vast auditorium is painted in blue, white and gold 鈥� the traditional colors of French royalty. Superbly preserved, it is one of the last remaining wooden framed theaters in Europe. Once a temporary seat for the French Parliament, it is now home to two of the city鈥檚 most esteemed theatrical groups 鈥� the National Opera and National Ballet of Bordeaux.

Why You Should Visit:
The architecture from outside is great but inside the gold gilding and ornate decoration everywhere you look is amazing.
The pre- and post-restoration rooms on view are light and airy, and the guided tour is hugely informative.

Tip:
Check ahead to see if there are any concerts you can attend and book ahead of time.

Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Bordeaux. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "51爆料网: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

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Create Your Own Self-Guided Walk to Visit This Sight

Sight Name: Bordeaux Grand Theatre
Sight Location: Bordeaux, France (See walking tours in Bordeaux)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:

Architectural Jewels Walking Tour

Walking Tours in Bordeaux, France

Create Your Own Walk in Bordeaux

Creating your own self-guided walk in Bordeaux is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.

Bordeaux Introduction Walking Tour

The metropolitan region of Bordeaux is the fifth largest in France. The city is the capital of the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region, but is perhaps better known as the Wine Capital of the World. The city's namesake wine comes in many varieties that can be found and enjoyed around the world.

The name of Bordeaux is a long-standing debate among historians. The first inhabitants of the region were... view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.5 Km or 2.2 Miles

Architectural Jewels Walking Tour

Napoleon Bonaparte referred to Bordeaux as "The Sleeping Beauty" upon seeing its classical architecture when visiting the city. In his turn, Honore de Balzac, the renowned French novelist, impressed by Bordeaux's timeless charm and elegance described it as "an extraordinary town".

Indeed, Bordeaux is one of Europe's most original architectural centers. More... view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.4 Km or 1.5 Miles

Historical Churches Walking Tour

Once dubbed 鈥淭he Sleeping Beauty鈥� (La Belle au Bois Dormant), Bordeaux owes its nickname, in large part, to its impossibly beautiful religious architecture. Indeed, given the abundance of historical churches, cathedrals, and basilicas in this city, it's no wonder that a good half of Bordeaux is a UNESCO-listed Heritage Site. Let's delve into the significance of some of them.

The... view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.5 Km or 2.2 Miles

Bordeaux Food Tour

Widely acclaimed for its prestigious wines, Bordeaux is also a prominent gastronomic destination in France. The local cuisine reflects the advantages of being a port city on the Atlantic coastline (with its fish and shellfish galore) and a carnivore country.

Perhaps the best place to start your culinary adventure here is the bustling Capuchins Market (March茅 des Capucins), where you can savor... view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.6 Km or 1.6 Miles

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