Notre Dame and Opéra Garnier
What a big day! Two amazing places that are each the setting of two of my favorite movies!
This is Notre Dame Cathedral, a church that has more history than most buildings in the world! Construction started on the church in 1163 – more than 846 years ago – and was finished about 1345. One of my favorite books-turned-movie is set here. The Hunchback of Notre Dame was written by Victor Hugo in the early 19th century and set there because he loved the church’s architecture. People all over France became interested in Notre Dame and even contributed money for its restoration because of Hugo’s book. Look up Notre Dame on Wikipedia to read some really cool information about it!
This really cool building is the setting for another of my favorite stories “The Phantom of the Opera”. This is the Palais Opera (or “Opera Palace”) built in 1875 under the supervision of Emperor Napoleon III. It is one of the greatest building built in that time – and is still one of the most loved building in all of France. In 1896 one of the counterweights holding the massive chandelier broke and the chandelier came crashing down killing a person. The tragedy inspired Gaston Leroux to write his novel ‘The Phantom of the Opera’ in 1909. The novel was turned into an opera and the opera was made into a movie.
Stay tuned! I have bunches of Parisian adventures left to share!
Have an Adventure Everyday!
Affectueusement,
Dewey
5 comments May 14th, 2009
