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Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Chaumont-en-Vexin Municipal Theatre was founded in the former Recollet convent, founded in the early seventeenth century and abandoned after the French Revolution. In 1811, the municipality settled there, and the chapel, still used for worship until the 1870s, was partially unoccupied. It is in this context that the notary Charles Henri Désiré Poulet proposed in 1838 to transform part of the place into a theatre, at his expense, giving birth to the municipal theatre.

This modest Italian-style theatre is characterized by a quadrangular stage raised in front of a floor and a U-shaped balcony, which can accommodate up to 200 spectators. The decorations, composed of marouflé canvases, evolved between 1840 and 1950, with a notable restoration in 1863 by the local artists Charles Frique and Émile Tabary, who adorn the vault of an ornamental motif. The later decorative elements, such as Marianne's bust, the city's coat of arms and the blue plant motifs in the stencil, date back to the early 20th century.

A versatile entertainment venue, the theatre hosts local and travelling troops for dramas, vaudevilles, concerts, raffles and even spiritualism sessions. He plays a key role in the sociability and attractiveness of Chaumont-en-Vexin, located on the road between Paris and Normandy. Programs and tickets found there attest to its continuous animation for more than a century.

The monument, still owned by the municipality, has been fully protected since 2023, including the theatre and facades/roofs of the former convent. Its official address, 45 rue de l'Hôtel de Ville, corresponds to the present town hall, heir to this architectural and cultural heritage.

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