Bibliothèque-musée de l'Opéra

About the museum

The Opera’s library and archives were established in 1866 to organise and preserve the institution’s documents since the founding of the Académie d’Opéra in 1669. The museum opened to the public in 1881, in the Palais Garnier.

Originally placed under the authority of the Ministry of Fine Arts, the Bibliothèque-musée de l’Opéra was attached to the National Library in 1935, then integrated into the Music Department in 1942. Its current organisation dates from 1991.

The collections bring together musical, iconographic and archival material from the activity of the Opéra and the Opéra-Comique, as well as documents on lyric art, dance and the circus. The reading room occupies the former salon, temporary exhibitions take place in the lower rotunda, and the museum’s permanent collections are displayed in the former smoking room.

Highlights

• Permanent museum collections in the former smoking room of the Palais Garnier
• Exhibitions in the lower rotunda
• Collections on the Opéra, the Opéra-Comique, lyric art, dance and the circus
• BnF research library with reading room

Permanent exhibition

• Collections permanentes du musée de l'Opéra – The permanent collections are displayed in the former smoking room of the Palais Garnier and evoke the history of the Opera, dance and lyric art.

Founded

1866

Operated by

Bibliothèque nationale de France (BnF)

Admission & discounts

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible: no information
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The BnF offers a reception service for people with disabilities (telephone +33 1 53 79 37 37, Monday to Friday 09:00–17:00, or accueil.handicap@bnf.fr). No detailed information is published for the Opera site on the page consulted.

Kids & families

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Getting there & parking

Visitor entrance at the corner of rue Scribe and rue Auber; postal address: 8 rue Scribe, 75009 Paris. Bicycle parking spaces are shown on the website.

Amenities & dining

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit