A fan of the hit musical and film The Phantom of the Opera? In Montmartre, the tourist-filled hilly district of Paris, after praying at the Basilique du Sacré-Cœur and having your portrait made by a street artist, you can chill at the Gaston Leroux Café, a hotspot fully dedicated to the late French author and his greatest novel, which inspired the films and the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical.
A private tea session over croissants, juice, tea and coffee can be booked, complete with storytelling at the café about Leroux’s life and the fascinating trivia behind the creation of the novel, the films and the musical. The café also serves as a museum where visitors can see rare Phantom merchandise, some donated by fans from all over the world.
Built by Leroux’s wife, the café is now run by the author’s great-granddaughter, Veronique, and her husband. Veronique, in an exclusive chat with this author, disclosed that after taking a DNA test, she found out that she also has Filipino blood!