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Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

Louhans Municipal Theatre originated in the 19th century, probably between 1850 and 1875, on the site of a former college of boys closed in the late 18th century. Its façade, integrated with the arcades of the Grande Rue, has retained its original appearance. In the late 1920s, a first attempt at renovation, led by municipal architect G. Lamirand, was considered too costly for a city of 4,100 inhabitants and abandoned. The project was relaunched in 1933 with a reduced budget (180,000 francs), without expansion but including the space of the former neighbouring popular municipal library.

The works, carried out between 1934 and 1936, completely transform the interior while preserving the facade, roof and floors. Inaugurated on May 5, 1936, the theatre adopted a marked Art Deco style: stylized pineapple wallpaper, blue and grey panelling signed Baudson (Paris), and stage decorations painted by Honoré Hugrel, native of Mâcon. Designed for versatility (theatre, dances, parties), it integrates side galleries serving as buvets and a flexible scene to free space.

Ranked a historic monument since February 10, 1999, for its facades, roofs, hall and stage, the theatre closed to the public in 2023 for security reasons. Its decor, unchanged since 1936, illustrates the homogeneity of the provincial Art Deco style. The annexes (windows, lodges) and access, built of reinforced cement, reflect modern techniques of the time. Today, awaiting renovation, it reflects the cultural ambition of a small rural town in the inter-war period.

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