Toulon Opera House
What is “Toulon Opera House”?
Toulon Opera House was inaugurated in 1862 and was at the time the largest opera house in France with a main room of 1 797 seats. The Garnier Opera in Paris opened in 1875, meaning 13 years after Toulon’s, and with a capacity of 100 extra seats only!
Toulon Opera House was built in a typical French Second Empire style and has a Historic Monument classification since 1992. The visitors can observe many interesting details on the building like geometrical friezes, an example of Byzantine-inspired craftsmanship fashionable at that time.
But the highlight of the visit is the main hall with its incredible ceiling: The painter Louis Duveau represented no less than 123 characters from Mythology and Theater on this 15 meters’ diameter surface. It is a delight to hear about its achievement from the red coated seats!
Opera House’s features
Besides its impressive ceiling and architecture, the opera house has 2 terraces with fantastic views over the old city-center of Toulon.
The magnificent “Campra Foyer”, which is now a concert hall, features 3 original Second Empirestyle chandeliers. It reminds us that, in the late 19th century, Toulon Opera House was on the leading edge as the light and heater worked with gas.
WHAT TO DO:
- A guided tour of Toulon Opera House: the impressive ceiling in the main hall, the monumental southern facade, the 2 terraces with a panoramic view over the city-centre, and the majestic “Campra foyer” where musicians have rehearsals.
- More: the visit of the opera house can be part of a walking tour of Toulon. Meet the shopkeepers and taste their local specialties. For example, the “Comptoir de Mathilde” welcomes cruise guests into a beautiful Provençal-style boutique featuring olive oil, tapenade, biscuits… and aperitif!
