Grand Théâtre de Bordeaux

If there’s an opera or dance performance at this grand opera house, designed in the 18th century by Victor Louis, it’s worth getting tickets to see the beautiful interiors – it's one of Europe's last and oldest wooden frame opera houses. Compared with Paris’ Garnier, it’s a small scale, which makes sitting close to the performers possible. Many of the productions are modern interpretations – a recent La Bohème was set in the 1960s with a cast that looked believably young for the classic love story.