Description The Palais Garnier, also known as the Opra de Paris or Opra Garnier, but more commonly as the Paris Opra, is a 2,200-seat opera house on the Place de l'Opra in Paris, France, which was the primary home of the Paris Opera from 1875 until 1989. A grand landmark designed by Charles Garnier in the Neo-Baroque style, it is regarded as one of the architectural masterpieces of its time.The building is located in the 9th arrondissement of Paris and is served by the metro station Opra and bus 21, 22, 27, 29, 42, 53, 66, 68, 81, 95.Upon its inauguration in 1875, the opera house was officially named the Acadmie Nationale de Musique - Thtre de l'Opra. It retained this title until 1978 when it was re-named the Thtre National de l'Opra de Paris. After the opera company chose the Opra Bastille as their principal theatre upon its completion in 1989, the theatre was re-named as the Palais Garnier, though Acadmie Nationale de Musique is still sprawled above the columns of its front faade. In spite of the change of names and the Opera company's relocation to the Opra Bastille, the Palais Garnier is still known by many people as the Paris Opra, as have all of the many theatres which have served as the principal venues of the Parisian Opera and Ballet since its founding.