Markgräfliches Opernhaus

Top choice


Designed by Giuseppe Galli Bibiena, a famous 18th-century architect from Bologna, Bayreuth's opera house is one of Europe's most stunningly ornate baroque theatres. Germany's largest opera house until 1871, it has a lavish interior smothered in carved, gilded and marbled wood. However, Richard Wagner considered it too modest for his serious work and conducted here just once.

This grand old dame spent most of the past decade under wraps, receiving a multimillion euro facelift but reopened its door in early 2018. It was declared a Unesco World Cultural Heritage Site in 2012.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby attractions

1. Neues Schloss

0.17 MILES

Opening into the vast Hofgarten, the Neues Schloss lies a short distance south of the main shopping street, Maxmilianstrasse. A riot of rococo style, the…

2. Richard Wagner Museum

0.29 MILES

In the early 1870s King Ludwig II, Wagner's most devoted fan, gave the composer the cash to build Haus Wahnfried, a pleasingly symmetrical minimansion on…

3. Maisel's Bier-Erlebnis-Welt

0.54 MILES

For a fascinating look at the brewing process, head to this enormous museum next door to the brewery of one of Germany’s top wheat-beer producers – Maisel…

4. Festspielhaus

1.08 MILES

North of the Hauptbahnhof, the main venue for Bayreuth’s annual Wagner Festival is the Festspielhaus, constructed in 1872 with King Ludwig II’s backing…

5. Eremitage

2.1 MILES

Around 6km east of the centre lies the Eremitage, a lush park girding the Altes Schloss, the summer residence that belonged to 18th-century margrave…

6. Altes Schloss

2.11 MILES

Within the Erimitage stands the Altes Schloss, King Frederick the Great of Prussia and his wife Wilhelmine’s summer residence. Visits to the palace are by…