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Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Municipal Theatre of Auxerre, originally conceived as a People's House, was built between 1937 and 1950 and inaugurated in 1953. This versatile venue, intended for workers' gatherings, included a sports hall (today's show hall) and a large hall dedicated to parties and meetings. Its architecture and decor reflect its social functions, combining allegories of work (agriculture, construction) and the arts, in a style marked by the time.

Between 1939 and 1942, artist Jean Burkhalter made a zodiacal fresco adorning the dome of the large hall, while the walls were decorated with Arts-Deco compositions. Ceramicists from the Sèvres factory, including Clement Freyssinges and Roger Sivault, contributed to ceramic ornamental panels, visible in the current theatre café. These elements, as well as the supporting structure and facades, were protected by an inscription at the Historic Monuments in 2012.

The building illustrates the evolution of public spaces in the 20th century, from a militant and sporting place to a municipal theatre. Its decoration, combining astrological symbols, allegories of work and ceramic art, demonstrates a desire to combine social utility and artistic ambition. The Burkhalter fresco and the Sèvres panels, inspired by Georges-André Klein, make this a remarkable example of the decorative heritage of the inter-war and post-war era.

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