“La jeunesse de Louis XIV” echoes in your mind. It was the very first play performed here at the Théâtre Bellecour. This Lyon theater stands before us. It’s at 85 Rue de la République. The Théâtre Bellecour has seen many changes.
Émile Guimet and Jules Chatron designed it. The grand opening was on September 25, 1879. For thirteen years, it was a theater. Imagine the excitement of opening night. The son of Alexandre Dumas wrote the play.
Two large antique caryatids once greeted theatergoers. They stood on either side of the main entrance. These figures remind us of its original use. Take a look at the building’s rotunda. Admire the frieze decorated with masks. Notice the caryatids supporting the elegant balcony.
The Théâtre Bellecour wasn’t always just a theater. In 1892, Émile Guimet sold the theater to the city of Lyon. By 1895, it became the headquarters for the newspaper Le Progrès. The building was significantly altered. Only the facade remained. A mosaic displaying ‘Le Progrès’ was added above the masks.
But there is another story to tell from the Théâtre Bellecour. On October 22, 1882, an explosion rocked the theater’s restaurant. It was called “L’Assommoir”. Anarchists were suspected. Antoine Cyvoct was among them.
During World War II, the Théâtre Bellecour served a dark purpose. The French Militia used the building. Like 5 Impasse Catelin, it was repurposed. Marcel Ruby noted the entrance hall became a propaganda exhibition.
In 1985, the building took on a new identity. The FNAC, a retail chain, purchased it. It remains a commercial center today. FNAC had been in Lyon since 1972.
The Théâtre Bellecour has witnessed history. It evolved from a theater to a newspaper headquarters. Now, it’s a store. Its facade still hints at its theatrical past. The mosaic by Antonio Mora decorates the main facade. Many architectural details remain. There is a dome on a drum and a woman’s bust. Smiling female faces adorn the building. Lyres embellish the facade.
The building shares similarities with the Guimet natural history museum. Jules Ferry inaugurated the museum the day after the theater opened. The museum did not manage to keep up with the Théâtre Bellecour. It was rebuilt in Paris in 1889.
So, as you stand here, remember the Théâtre Bellecour. It has evolved but its stories endure. From plays to newspapers to retail, it remains a vital part of Lyon’s history.