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Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Théâtre L'Eden de Tulle, originally named The 7 hills, is a municipal theatre built between 1899 and 1902 under the impulse of Jean Tavé, Mayor of Tulle and Radical MP. The building replaces an old hall deemed inadequate, located in Saint Martin Abbey. The project was approved in 1894 and was commissioned by architects Joseph Auberty and Anatole de Baudot, who proposed a revolutionary structure in reinforced cement, a world premiere for a theatre. The facade, richly decorated with ceramics and stained glass, becomes an architectural symbol of the city.

The construction was completed in 1902, with an Italian-style room with three balconies and a fireplace. In 1932, the theatre was transformed into a cinema, the Eden, by the architect Dubreuil, who removed the balconies to create two steps and modified the roof. After decades of cinematic activity, the building returned to its theatrical vocation in 1994 thanks to a major renovation carried out by architects Larrouy, Sicre, David and scenographer Bernard Guillaumot. The façade was classified as a historical monument in 1977.

In 2017, the theatre merged with Brive-la-Gaillarde to form the National Scene L-Empreinte, marking a new cultural era for the region. The theatre is distinguished by its technical history (first theatre in armed cement) and its central role in the artistic life of Tulle, from the industrial era to the present day. Its architecture, combining innovation and careful decor, makes it an emblematic heritage of the Corrèze.

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