Is There a Lake Under the Paris Opera House?

By Michael Ferguson

The Paris Opera House, also known as Palais Garnier, is one of the most iconic landmarks of the city of love. It has been featured in numerous movies and books, including the famous novel “The Phantom of the Opera.” The building itself is a work of art with its stunning architecture and intricate details.

However, there has been a long-standing rumor that there is a lake under the Paris Opera House. So, is this just a myth or is there some truth to it? Let’s find out.

The Legend
The story goes that Charles Garnier, the architect who designed the Opera House, included a lake in his plans. He wanted to provide water for the firefighters who would be called in case of any emergency.

However, due to some construction complications and budget constraints, the lake was never built. But some people believe that it was constructed secretly and still exists under the building.

The Reality
The truth is that there is no lake under the Paris Opera House. This rumor seems to have originated from Gaston Leroux’s novel “The Phantom of the Opera,” which tells the story of a mysterious phantom who lives beneath the Opera House and uses an underground lake as his lair.

However, even though there is no actual lake under the building, there are indeed water features within it. The basement level houses an underground water source that feeds into two large cisterns that can hold up to 10,000 gallons of water each. These cisterns were used for firefighting purposes during Garnier’s time and are still functional today.

Conclusion

In conclusion, while there may not be an actual lake under the Paris Opera House as many people believe, there are still interesting water features within its walls. It’s always fascinating to uncover these little secrets about historic buildings like this one. If you ever get a chance to visit the Opera House, make sure to take a tour of the basement and see these water features for yourself.