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Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Royal Palace, originally named Nogentais Palace, is a cinema built in 1921 in Nogent-sur-Marne by architect Milon, at the initiative of Bernard Klein, brother of Albert Klein, a Hungarian Jewish immigrant. Located right in the centre of the city in the Grande-Rue, it quickly becomes a landmark of the music hall between the two wars, welcoming renowned artists like Fernandel. Its architecture and white facade, visible from afar, make it a symbol of the chic neighbourhood near the town hall.

In 1972, the cinema was modernized and divided into 4 rooms under the name "Artel-UGC", while retaining its original façade. However, in the 1980s, he suffered the crisis in the film sector and closed in the early 1990s. In 1997 it reopened under its historic name, the Royal Palace, with mainly family programming. In 2012, two additional rooms were added, and facilities (elevator, PMR accessibility) were made to modernize the space while preserving its heritage character.

Ranked Art and Testing and Labelled Young audience in 2012, the Royal Palace offers a variety of programming: cinemaclubs (Community Circle of Nogent, House of Jewish Culture), thematic sessions (Tuesday cinemaphile, Sunday movies), and innovative devices such as the Royal Babies for parents of young children. It also participates in educational programmes (School & Cinema, Lyceans at the cinema) and hosts film conferences, affirming its role as a neighbourhood cinema rooted in local life.

The façade of the Royal Palace, the work of architect Milon, has been listed as a Historic Monument since 1990, highlighting its heritage value. The building, owned by a private company, embodies both the history of 1920s cinema and a successful adaptation to contemporary issues, between preservation and innovation. Its official address, 165 Grande-Rue Général-de-Gaulle, makes it a major cultural landmark in Val-de-Marne.

Evoked in literature, as in François Cavanna's Les Ritals, the Royal Palace is described as an emblematic place of Nogent-sur-Marne, marking the night landscape with its colourful illuminations. Its history also reflects that of Hungarian Jewish immigrants, like the Klein brothers, who contributed to its growth in the inter-war period.

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