The Reims Opera House was inaugurated in 1873. Prior to that date, the city had only one small auditorium, where the very popular theatrical performances took place. But as the city and its population grew, the auditorium became too small to accommodate the ever-increasing number of spectators. In 1866, it was decided to build a new theatre. A competition was organised to see who would have the honour to build the new theatre. The winner was Alphonse Gosset, an architect from Reims, who designed an opera house reminiscent of Palais Garnier. The building was not spared by bombs during the World War I. Rebuilt identically and reopened in 1931., it was one of the last buildings to reopen after the war. Thus, it displays today the same style as it did at the time. The inside unveils a beautiful Italian-style theater, whose decorations are influenced, as with many buildings in the city, by Art Deco. Nowadays, performances at the opera house include some of the greatest classical works, as well as contemporary operas, making it a much-loved cultural venue for locals and visitors alike.