The cost of work at the Opéra Bastille estimated at 400 million euros, according to Rachida Dati

Culture Minister Rachida Dati announced on Tuesday, May 20, that the cost of the "necessary work" to renovate the Opéra Bastille was "€400 million," an amount still being estimated.

"The Bastille Opera requires €400 million in work because the stage could collapse," said Ms. Dati, who was appearing before the National Assembly's Finance Committee on the budgetary implementation of several of her ministry's missions.

"It's 400 million euros and ten years of work," she insisted, specifying that it was an "example that had not yet been released and that [she] is working on."

She was questioned more generally about work relating to heritage.

In October, the Paris Opera announced, among other things, the closure of the Bastille site for "major renovation work" on the "stage equipment" starting in mid-2030 and lasting for at least two years. Work on occupied sites (waterproofing of roofs and terraces, glass facades, etc.) is also planned from next summer until 2037.

In March, the institution's director general, Alexander Neef, mentioned a necessary "envelope" of "€600 million" in investments (including both current and exceptional investments) until 2037 for all sites (Bastille, Opéra Garnier, storage workshops in Berthier, and the Dance School). In April, the institution indicated during a hearing before the Senate that this work would be included in a multi-year financing plan.

The Opera relies on four sources of funding: reserves, self-financing capacity, patronage and a portion provided by the State, Mr. Neef explained.

At the Palais Garnier, work is scheduled to begin in the summer of 2027 and will involve the renovation of the stage equipment and the stage house, forcing the site to close for two years.

Illustrative image of the article via Depositphotos.com.