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Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The opera-theatre of Metz, originally named Hôtel des Spectacles, was built between 1738 and 1752 on the island of Petit Saulcy, an ancient marshy area paved in 1732. This project was part of a desire for modern urban planning driven by the Duke of Belle Isle, Governor of Metz, who sought to structure the city with harmonious squares. The classical Tuscan theatre was designed by Messin architect Jacques Oger, with the support of Landot experts (machinist) and Pierre Deleuze (decorator), after a chaotic beginning under Charles-François Roland. Inaugurated in 1752, it became the heart of a square decorated with two symmetrical pavilions: Saint-Marcel and La Douane.

The construction was interrupted for eight years by the Austrian Succession War (1740–1748). In 1754, a peristyle of 21 arcades unified the three buildings, creating a central terrace. During the Revolution, the square was renamed equal place, as evidenced by inscriptions engraved in the stone, now scattered. In 1794 the guillotine — nicknamed La Louise — was installed there, executing 33 people. In the 19th century, the sculptor Charles Pêtre adjusted the facade with allegories (Tragedy, Music, etc.), while the interior was renovated in a neoclassical style.

The opera theatre, never reconverted since 1752, welcomed major figures such as Sarah Bernhardt (1905, 1909) or Jean Cocteau ( 1960s). Otto Brucks, director from 1906 to 1914, finished his career there marked by a marital scandal with Countess Marie von Wallersee-Larisch, linked to the Mayerling affair. Ranked a historic monument in 1930 for its facades and roofs, it remains today one of the few French operas with internal workshops (costumes, decorations). Under the direction of Paul-Emile Fourny since 2011, he has offered a varied programme (opéras, ballets, theatre) with a permanent troupe of 103 people.

The building also symbolizes the technical innovations of Metz: in 1887, it was the first French electric theatre lit by electricity, thanks to a hydraulic plant installed at the Thermes mill. The square once housed a monumental fountain (disappeared), celebrating the arrival of the waters of Gorze. Managed by Metz Métropole, the opera is a member of the Réunion des Opéras de France and perpetuates an uninterrupted tradition of performance that has been alive for nearly three centuries.

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