Fodor's Expert Review Opera de Lille

When fire destroyed Lille's opera house in 1903, a new, grander edifice began to rise after more than 10 years of construction. Unfortunately, the outbreak of World War I set everything several steps back; after the war, more renovation was required, but the theater eventually opened in 1923. As impressive as the Belle Époque facade is on the outside, it's the sumptuous grande salle on the inside that truly dazzles, with its gilding, marble, chandeliers, and massive dome. The space suffers no dearth of activity today; the stage teams with operas, concerts, and dance performances.