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Origin and history

The municipal theatre of Villefranche-de-Rouergue, built between 1896 and 1898, replaces an old festive hall installed in 1810 in a convent transformed into a town hall. In 1831, in response to popular demand, the municipality opened a Casino as a ballroom, but it was only in 1894 that Mayor Marcellin Fabre proposed a Italian theatre project on the site of the former courthouse. The works, led by architect Ernest Fage, involve local entrepreneurs such as Rossignol Abel and Castex Emile. The inauguration in September 1898 marked an ephemeral success, followed by a conversion to cinema (Splendide Cinéma Pathé) from 1912 to 1927.

The building, in eclectic style at the end of the 19th century, is distinguished by its limestone façade decorated with staff decorations, its entrance hall leading to an inclined hall of 352 seats, and a horse-drawn iron balcony typical of Italian theatres. Interior decors, inspired by burlesque and comedy, include oak panelling, fireplaces, and wrought iron railings. After a period of decline and degradation, a renovation carried out in the 1990s gave the theatre its original brilliance. Initial plans reveal that a bell tower once overcame the roof, sheltering the municipal mermaid, which is now extinct.

The first hall of the Festivals of Villefranche, opened in 1810 in the former convent of the Visitation, was reassigned in public weight, causing a citizens' petition in 1831 for its reopening. The Casino, an improvised ballroom, does not meet cultural expectations. The project of 1894, approved quickly, is part of a desire for urban modernization, with local materials (calcareous stone, staff) and craftsmanship. The architect Ernest Fage, who is also the designer of the municipal hall, oversees an emblematic site for the city's heritage.

Between 1912 and 1927, the theatre became the Splendid Cinema Pathé, operated by Joseph Latour, while occasionally welcoming travelling troops. After 1950, its use was limited to sporadic events (turns, meetings), accelerating its deterioration. Associative mobilization in the 1990s led to a complete restoration in 1996, preserving its Italian model and its polychrome decorations. Today, inscribed in the Historical Monuments, it symbolizes the cultural vitality of the Rouergue.

The protected elements include posters and the entire building (1993 order). The structure combines slate roofs, zinc, and a top, while the interior retains wrought iron stairs, staff columns, and oak panelling. The bays and doors, painted in green, emphasize the chromatic harmony of the place. The south façade, decorated with three doors and a balcony accessible from the first floor, reflects the Italianizing influence, while the elevated scene and its technical opening testify to its original function.

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