Begun in 1768, the opera house was inaugurated in 1770 for the wedding celebrations of the Dauphin, the future Louis XVI to Marie-Antoinette. It was the first oval-shaped hall, in France and one of the first examples of the so-called Louis XVI style – in the middle of Louis XV's reign. The astonishingly modern decoration, inspired by Antiquity, was sculpted by Augustin Pajou and his wood panelling has a rare resonance. The capacity is around 700 people.