Logo Musée du Patrimoine

All French heritage classified by regions, departments and cities

  2. Divers
  3. Grand-Est
  4. Bas-Rhin
  5. 67000 Strasbourg

  6. Former U.T. cinema.

Former U.T. cinema. à Strasbourg dans le Bas-Rhin

Bas-Rhin

Former U.T. cinema.

    3 Rue des Francs-Bourgeois
    67000 Strasbourg
Ancien cinéma U.T.
Ancien cinéma U.T.
Ancien cinéma U.T.
Ancien cinéma U.T.
Ancien cinéma U.T.
Ancien cinéma U.T.
Ancien cinéma U.T.
Ancien cinéma U.T.
Ancien cinéma U.T.
Ancien cinéma U.T.
Ancien cinéma U.T.
Ancien cinéma U.T.
Ancien cinéma U.T.
Ancien cinéma U.T.
Ancien cinéma U.T.
Ancien cinéma U.T.
Ancien cinéma U.T.
Ancien cinéma U.T.
Ancien cinéma U.T.
Ancien cinéma U.T.
Ancien cinéma U.T.
Ancien cinéma U.T.
Ancien cinéma U.T.
Ancien cinéma U.T.
Ancien cinéma U.T.
Ancien cinéma U.T.
Ancien cinéma U.T.
Ancien cinéma U.T.
Ancien cinéma U.T.
Ancien cinéma U.T.
Ancien cinéma U.T.
Ancien cinéma U.T.
Ancien cinéma U.T.
Ancien cinéma U.T.
Ancien cinéma U.T.
Ancien cinéma U.T.
Ancien cinéma U.T.
Ancien cinéma U.T.
Ancien cinéma U.T.
Ancien cinéma U.T.
Ancien cinéma U.T.
Ancien cinéma U.T.
Ancien cinéma U.T.
Ancien cinéma U.T.
Ancien cinéma U.T.
Ancien cinéma U.T.
Ancien cinéma U.T.
Crédit photo : Ctruongngoc - Sous licence Creative Commons

Timeline

XIXe siècle
Époque contemporaine
1900
2000
1913
Construction of cinema
3 janvier 1914
Official opening
1964
Renamed ABC
1986
Final closure
4 mai 1990
Registration for historical monuments
2022-2023
Renovation and renewal
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui

Heritage classified

Outside: main façade, 3 rue des Francs-Bourgeois, with entrance door and boxes; Corresponding side façade (two spans in return), rue des Sept-hommes; corresponding roof. Inside: the following elements with their decoration: entrance hall on the ground floor, stairwell and staircase leading to the fireplace, fireplace on the first floor and staircase to the balcony, large showroom with floor on the ground floor and balcony on the first floor (cad. 60 130): inscription by order of 4 May 1990

Key figures

Paul Horn - Architect Original designer of cinema in 1913.
Louis Piccon - Architect Directed the 1992 restoration (Odyssey).
Paul Wegener - Actor Star of "L"Student of Prague* (opening film).
Hans Heinz Ewers - Director Author of "L"Student of Prague* (1914).

Origin and history

The former U.T. cinema, located in Strasbourg, is an emblematic building built in 1913 under the name of Union Theater (U.T.), with reference to the famous Berlin cinema of the same name. At the time, Strasbourg was part of the German Empire, and this film theatre embodied German cultural influence. His official opening took place on January 3, 1914, with the screening of two films: A hunt for Rhinoceros in East Africa and the Prague Student, marking the beginning of his history as one of the oldest cinemas in France. The neo-classical building is distinguished by its richly decorated façade and interior, including a vestibule, a fireplace and a large concert hall with balcony.

In 1964, the cinema was renamed ABC and managed by the Gaumont group, which already operates several cinemas in Strasbourg. Faced with competition from multiplexes, it closed in 1986. The city of Strasbourg, the owner of the premises, then transformed it into a versatile cultural space called the Odyssey after a restoration led by architect Louis Piccon from 1992. Protected elements, listed as historical monuments since 1990, include facades, roofing, vestibule, stairwell and the large room with its original décor.

Between April 2022 and June 2023, the site underwent further work to improve accessibility, particularly for people with reduced mobility. He was then renamed Cosmos, evoking a world of travel and imagination. This historic cinema, originally designed by architect Paul Horn for the Süddeutsche Discontogesellschaft A.G., remains a major architectural and cultural testimony of the early 20th century in Alsace, mixing German and French influences.

The exterior facades, with their entrance porch and boxes, as well as interior decorations (house, staircase, balcony), have been protected since 1990. The building illustrates the evolution of cinemas, moving from an elitist place of entertainment to a municipal cultural space, while preserving its architectural heritage. Today, the Cosmos perpetuates this dual vocation, between historical memory and modernity.

External links

Page Wikipedia
Page Monumentum