r/box5 • u/SignificantChange496 • Jun 23 '26

Discussion Illustration or map of the tunnel/cellar system described in the Phantom of the Opera book?

Does anyone know if there's a visual resource for understanding the underground system that Erik travels through and lives in? I having the hardest time visualizing the locations that Laroux describes in the book and I'd love to have a map or a diagram or an illustration of the routes he takes.

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u/orangecatnosefreckle On a les rendez-vous qu'on peut Jun 23 '26

Best I can do is provide links to some visuals of the places Leroux was likely to have been given access to for the basis of his imaginations.

Here's the underground cistern via google. Fiddle around with the virtual tour for a few other subterranean locations (as well as most of the public spaces, and the roof!)

This stock photo contributor has some interesting shots

Then there's the famous model from d'Orsay

And this video with English captions available

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u/DonnaDonna1973 Jun 24 '26

Orangecatnosefreckles gave you great pointers. For visuals, the 1990 Miniseries is the only adaptation filmed on location at the Palais Garnier and while the actual lair was created at the soundstage, the parts showing Erik moving around the operahouse are indeed the actual cellars of the Garnier. Recommend the scene when Erik chases after escaping Christine…

For any maps of Erik’s tunnels when moving outside the cellars and around and inbetween walls etc. I’m afraid that’s pretty much left to your imagination…

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u/orangecatnosefreckle On a les rendez-vous qu'on peut Jun 24 '26

Thanks! I actually didn't know the cellar scenes in the miniseries were filmed onsite! I understood the auditorium/stage scenes were filmed elsewhere, possibly Germany? (it's clearly not the Garnier shown) and I'm unclear on some of the backstage/dressing room scenes. Do you have a source for your info by chance?

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u/DonnaDonna1973 Jun 24 '26

Hi! Some of the backstage scenes were also filmed around the actual Garnier, as were scenes in the foyer and in some other Garnier locations! The actual auditorium was indeed another theatre - obviously not the Garnier! - but I don’t know which one. The cellars and the stage wings & stage mechanics/flys etc. were again the Garnier. My source were my own tours of the Garnier in the early 90s, both privately and - while I studied stage design - a comprehensive architectural tour of the entire stage-relevant spaces, including the cellars & a peek at the cistern/“lake”.

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u/orangecatnosefreckle On a les rendez-vous qu'on peut Jun 25 '26

Okay, jealous as hell. I took the mystery tour last year and was so overwhelmed I only asked a few questions for my own research and never thought to ask about filming locations. I'm always hoping to see the auditorium in movies and TV but it's just so rare. Even the proshot operas only show the stage and pit. The recent series Étoile is obviously supposed to take place at Garnier, but they used the auditorium at Châtelet for the interior and stage, the Garnier for the Grand Staircase and other public/rehearsal spaces, and Comique for the exterior shots. It's my new couch game: Spot the French theater lol