Vienne Theater

The Francois Ponsard theatre

A cultural stop on the Vienne audio-guided tour, the Francois Ponsard theatre stands on the site of the former town hall of Vienne, demolished in the eighteenth century because it had become too dilapidated.

The legacy of Pierre Schneyder

It was the archaeologist Pierre Schneyder who had a performance hall built here at his own expense, later enlarged and embellished into an Italian-style theatre that became a cultural centre of the city. Passing through Vienne in 1761, this scholar of German origin, seeing the remains poorly showcased, began to draw the monuments and reveal the ancient richness of the city.

What to see

Thanks to his writings and drawings, the ancient remains were catalogued and regularly restored. The theatre bears not the name of its designer, but that of Francois Ponsard, a poet and playwright from Vienne, to whom we owe works such as Lucrece and L'Honneur et l'Argent. Admire this fine Italian-style hall, the heart of Vienne's cultural life.

Practical information

The Francois Ponsard theatre is on rue Chantelouve, in the centre of Vienne. Programming and performance times should be checked depending on the season with the venue.

Who had this theatre built ?

The archaeologist Pierre Schneyder, at his own expense, on the site of the former town hall.

Why the name Francois Ponsard ?

In tribute to Francois Ponsard, a poet and playwright from Vienne of the nineteenth century.