Built as a temple to honour the glory of Napoleon's Army: La Madeleine is a church dedicated to St. Mary Magdalene, but when it was built, it was intended as a temple to honour the glory of Napoleon's army. Its style is Neo-Classical and it was inspired by the Maison Carrée in Nimes, but had it not been for a couple of twists in the course of history, La Madeleine might well have been quite a different monument today. When Pierre Contant d'Ivry was first commissioned to build … [Read more...]
Opéra Garnier – A Grand Paris Opera House
May 21, 2009 by
Palais Garnier is a Paris Opera House fit for an Emperor: You don't have to be an opera buff to appreciate the Palais Garnier which is also known as the Opéra de Paris or the Opéra Garnier, or more commonly referred to as the Paris Opéra. Located on the Place de l'Opéra in Paris' 9th arondissement, this 1,900-seat neo-Baroque style opera house was built on the orders of Napoleon III and its grandeur is certainly fit for emperors. As part of Napoleon III's great Parisian … [Read more...]