Built in 1780 when Bordeaux was at the height of its wealth, the Grand Théâtre—adorned with Corinthian columns and sculptures of the Muses—ranks as one of the city’s grand edifices. Marvel at the ornate interiors: a Bohemian-crystal chandelier that hangs from a domed ceiling awash with an allegory of Apollo, and the grand staircase, said to have inspired the one in Charles Garnier’s Paris Opera building. Tours run twice weekly or catch a performance from Bordeaux’s opera or ballet companies (purchase tickets in advance).
