When you think of opera, you think of ballet, lyrical singing, Mozart and Tchaikovsky. You don’t often think about tomatoes, edible flowers, compost, and fertilization. Yet, right in the heart of Paris, at the border between the 4th, 11th, and 12th arrondissements, this mythical place in Paris happily combines these two worlds without a hitch. Even better, this space between art and nature, between earth and sky, is accessible to everyone!
As the Seasons Change
The project Opéra 4 Saisons was envisioned in 2017 — a nod to Vivaldi’s "Four Seasons", of course. A year later, this garden came to life above the Opéra Bastille, covering no less than 2500m² of roof and 2000m² of façade. So, what’s on the agenda? Thousands of square meters of fruits and vegetables, but also Herbs aromatic and edible flowers cultivated all year round. Fresh plants harvested every day and distributed on-site to the employees of the Paris Opera, as well as to some of the restaurants located around the Place de la Bastille, providing them with the freshest and highest quality produce possible. And the cherry on top, Topager, the manager of this vibrant green space, also grows hops there, which are then transformed directly into beer in their brewery in the 17th!
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A Place Open to Everyone
But the really good news in this story is that the urban farm is opening its doors to you during these unusual guided tours. For 1.5 hours, the farmers from Topager will unveil all the secrets of this transformed roof, sharing their rooftop farming techniques and discussing the importance of these urban agriculture spaces right in the city center. And to reach the top, you’ll also get the chance to go behind the scenes of the Opera, discovering areas that are usually closed to the public. All with a superb view of the capital. If this experience piques your interest, the tours are available by reservation on the website.Wecandoo, and you'll need to budget 20€ per person !
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