Vienne Theater

This theater, known as the François Ponsard Theater, stands on the site of Vienne’s former town hall, demolished in the 18th century because of its poor condition. Archaeologist Pierre Schneyder built, at his own expense, an auditorium here, then later enlarged and embellished it into an Italian-style theater that has become a true cultural center of the city.  Pierre Schneyder, a German who was passing through Vienne in 1761, noticed that that the city’s remnants were not well highlighted. He began drawing the monuments and showcasing the great ruins it possessed. It is partly thanks to him that the inhabitants finally became aware of the true beauty of their city, hidden in the ruins of some monuments from the Roman era. Thanks to his writings and drawings, the ancient vestiges were documented and could be regularly restored to preserve their condition. Nevertheless, the theater does not bear the name of its designer but that of François Ponsard, the Viennese French poet and dramatist, whose works include “Galilée”, “Lucrèce”, “Ulysse”, “L’Honneur et l’Argent” and “Le Lion amoureux”. This theater delights local residents who come to see the latest performances !