Patent of the Panrama process 1958 (≈ 1958)
Invention by Philippe Jaulmes of the immersive optical system.
1963
First room in Montpellier
First room in Montpellier 1963 (≈ 1963)
Process test on a small dome.
1967
Film subdivision project
Film subdivision project 1967 (≈ 1967)
Design of an ambitious industrial complex in Clapiers.
1969
Construction of the Clapiers Hall
Construction of the Clapiers Hall 1969 (≈ 1969)
First hemispheric hall in the world (12 m in diameter).
9 décembre 2015
Historical Monument
Historical Monument 9 décembre 2015 (≈ 2015)
Inventory of protected monuments.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Heritage classified
The old experimental cinema "Panrama" located Plan des Garrigues, in total (cad. CE 11b): inscription by decree of 9 December 2015
Key figures
Philippe Jaulmes - Architect and inventor
Creator of the Panrama process and the room.
Origin and history
The former experimental cinema Panrama, located in Clapiers, is a major 20th century innovation in the field of immersive cinema. Invented and patented in 1958 by architect Philippe Jaulmes, this system is based on an inclined hemispheric dome where the viewer is immersed in a 360° image. The process uses a fish-eye lens for shooting and projection, providing a complete visual experience. This revolutionary concept was first tested on small domes, with a first room opened in Montpellier in 1963.
In 1969, Philippe Jaulmes and his company The studios of the total cinema build in Clapiers an experimental room of 12 meters in diameter, covering 180 m2 and capable of hosting 50 spectators. This building, probably the first hemispheric cinema in the world, marked the first phase of a more ambitious project: a subdivision dedicated to cinematographic industrial activities, conceived since 1967. The Panrama technique, combining architecture and optics, aimed to radically rethink the cinematic experience.
The site, classified as Monument Historique by decree of 9 December 2015, bears witness to the technological and artistic audacity of its time. Although the original project was not completed in its entirety, the Panrama remains a unique milestone in the history of experimental cinema. Its inclusion in the inventory of historical monuments underlines its heritage importance, both for its technical innovation and for its role in the evolution of the projection halls. The exact location, in the Plan des Garrigues à Clapiers, is today preserved as a rare remnant of this film adventure.
