Opéra de Nice

The Opera de Nice stands at the heart of the Old Town on Rue Saint-Francois-de-Paule, just a block from the Promenade des Anglais. Built between 1883 and 1885 by architect Francois Aune, it replaced the Theatre Municipal that burned down in 1881. Its facade with four allegorical muses and the red-and-gold Belle Epoque auditorium quickly made it the cultural heart of the Riviera. Conductors including Camille Saint-Saens and Gustav Mahler led performances on its stage. Classified as a Monument Historique, the house today programmes opera, ballet and concerts of the Orchestre Philharmonique de Nice. Daytime guided tours let visitors see the auditorium.