The Auxerre Theatre
This point of interest is available as audio on the tour: Visit Auxerre, In the Footsteps of Cadet Roussel
You’re now standing in front of the Auxerre Theater, one of the city’s most iconic cultural venues. Construction began in 1938 on the site of the old Workers’ Exchange. Originally, it was intended to be a gathering place for the working residents.
However, when World War II broke out in 1939, the building was repurposed as a storehouse. It was later converted into a ballroom and began hosting sports and artistic events. It wasn’t until 1953 that it was officially inaugurated as a theater, marked by a performance from the prestigious Comédie Française, one of France’s most renowned theatre companies. Renovated in the 1990s, the theater now boasts two performance halls and offers a wide range of programming.
The main hall is adorned with murals by Jean Burkhalter, a celebrated local artist, drawing teacher, and designer of fabrics and silverware. Thanks to the artistic value of both building’s façade and Burkhalter’s murals, the theater was listed as a Historic Monument in 2012
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