Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

Cirque Jules-Verne, located at Place Longueville in Amiens, was inaugurated in 1889 under the name of Cirque municipal. He replaced a temporary wooden circus built in 1874, which succeeded ephemeral installations dating back to 1845. The project is led by Mayor Frédéric Petit and actively supported by Jules Verne, municipal councillor and local figure, who delivers the opening speech. The building, designed by the architect Emile Ricquier, student of Gustave Eiffel, incorporates technical innovations such as electric lighting and central steam heating, for a total cost of 815 630 francs.

The circus is inspired by the Parisian models of Jacques Ignace Hittorff, with a 16-pan polygonal structure and an apparent metal frame. Its eclectic architecture blends regional brick with neoclassical elements, such as the entrance porch decorated with composite columns and a triangular pediment. Inside, the 13-metre-diameter circular track and transformable steps reflect a versatility designed to accommodate circuses, shows, congresses and competitions. The interior decorations, initially of pumpy style, will evolve as renovations progress.

Damaged by a shell in 1916, the circus survived the two world wars and the risk of demolition. In the 1950s, its 35-metre chimney was shortened for safety reasons. From 1946 to 1951, he welcomed renowned artists such as the Fratellini or Grock, and served as a stage for films, including the Clowns by Federico Fellini (1972). In 1975, its facades and roofs were listed as historic monuments, recognizing its heritage value.

Between 2002 and 2003, a major renovation (EUR 3.04 million) modernises the interior spaces while preserving their original character, such as the red velvet seats or the window windows of the lantern. The circus was renamed Jules Verne in 2003, honouring its historical defender. In 2016, an external restoration (€1.6 million) gave the carpentries their red Saint-Émilion and the ironworks their Seychelles blue, while rebuilding a marquise destroyed in 1916.

Today, Cirque Jules-Verne is a national circus hub, labeled EPCC, dedicated to traditional and contemporary circus arts. It offers varied annual programming (spectacles, concerts, one-man-shows) and houses a circus school. Its architecture, its history linked to Jules Verne and its versatility make it a unique monument in France, still in operation after more than 130 years.

External links