The neoclassical facade of Bordeaux's Grand Theatre featuring tall Corinthian columns, an ornate entablature with sculptural details, and a series of statues along the roofline, with visitors in the forecourt.
Reception hall of the Bordeaux Grand Theatre featuring a coffered gilt ceiling, Corinthian columns, crystal chandeliers and arched doors
Interior view of the Grand Théâtre in Bordeaux featuring rows of black seats, ornate golden balconies on multiple levels, a painted ceiling with mythological scenes, a large crystal chandelier, and the stage with its perspective set design.
Interior view of the Grand Théâtre of Bordeaux featuring a monumental marble staircase with Corinthian columns, allegorical statues in niches, coffered ceiling, and a main entrance door with a triangular pediment.
Facade of the Grand Theatre of Bordeaux featuring Corinthian columns, golden-yellow windows, and stone statues of muses on the upper level
The neoclassical facade of Bordeaux's Grand Theatre featuring tall Corinthian columns, an ornate entablature with sculptural details, and a series of statues along the roofline, with visitors in the forecourt.
Reception hall of the Bordeaux Grand Theatre featuring a coffered gilt ceiling, Corinthian columns, crystal chandeliers and arched doors
Interior view of the Grand Théâtre in Bordeaux featuring rows of black seats, ornate golden balconies on multiple levels, a painted ceiling with mythological scenes, a large crystal chandelier, and the stage with its perspective set design.
Interior view of the Grand Théâtre of Bordeaux featuring a monumental marble staircase with Corinthian columns, allegorical statues in niches, coffered ceiling, and a main entrance door with a triangular pediment.
Facade of the Grand Theatre of Bordeaux featuring Corinthian columns, golden-yellow windows, and stone statues of muses on the upper level
Monument

Opera House Guided Tour

From 10€

Bordeaux's city centre features a marvellously elegant monument. The Grand Théâtre has delighted visitors and been the pride and joy of Bordeaux for over two centuries.

  • Bordeaux's must-see monument
  • 50 min guided tour
  • Headquarters of the Opéra National de Bordeaux

The guided tour begins outside the building, then takes you into the vestibule, up the grand staircase and inside the auditorium.


Designed in the 1770s by the architect Victor Louis, the Grand Théâtre is the most spectacular monument in Bordeaux. It stands on the site of the Piliers de Tutelle, a temple that once sat at the heart of the Gallo-Roman forum. Its neoclassical architecture makes it one of the finest theatres in Europe.

Its structure is built largely of wood, which gives the auditorium its exceptional acoustics, and it is one of the oldest wooden-framed opera houses in Europe never to have burned down or been rebuilt. It was inaugurated on 7 April 1780 with a performance of Racine's Athalie. Restoration work has since returned the Grand Théâtre to its original 18th-century blue and gold, while adapting it to the demands of a working opera house.

Guided tours run in French, English or Spanish on selected days. Choose your language when booking.

by Bordeaux Tourism & Conventions
Bordeaux Tourist Office partner

Ecocertified partner

Bordeaux Tourism & Conventions has the following certifications for its sustainable management: Accueil Vélo, Tourism and handicap and ISO 20121.

Good to know

Number of participants

de 2 à 20 participants

Good to know

se présenter 5 mn avant l'horaire de visite. Accessible aux personnes en situation de handicap.

Meeting point

Entrée principale du Grand Théâtre, Place de la Comédie, Bordeaux, France

They had this experience

D
Great experience
David C 09/08/2026
Enthusiastic well informed guide. Great insight into this amazing building and its social role. Highly recommended.
R
Impressive
Russell Jacobs 09/06/2026
The building was impressive plus the guide (Francois-Remy) was very impressive. He was passionate about his work and very knowledgeable about.
F
Fantastique!
Franca Porter 09/06/2026
Normally I won't take a guided tour but I'm glad I've done it! The tour guide, François was a great story teller and his English was outstanding. All the ins and outs will give you a second or even a third thought about his explanation about the statues, and the story and gossips. For 10 Euro's it's certainly worth the money and I can recommand it to everybody.
M
Beautyful building and learned a lot
Marcel Pereboom 09/03/2026
The guide was very good.