The Paris Opera announced Thursday that it had been forced to extend planned renovations on its historic home in the French capital by three years because of lead contamination.
The beloved institution had already announced two years of work from 2027-2029 for the Palais Garnier, which will close one of the most iconic sites of European opera.
But the overhaul and de-contamination on the structure is now expected to take five years, with the re-opening date pushed back to 2032.
"It's a decision we stand by, a decision taken out of responsibility, a decision made to ensure the long-term future of our asset," Paris Opera director general Alexander Neef told Agence France-Presse (AFP) on Thursday.
"We have taken this step today in order to avoid having to launch other major works in a few years' time," he added.
