The Ranelagh

Contact our partner to arrange a 1.5-hour tour at: www.evasions-culturelles.fr

The Château de Boulainvilliers, acquired in 1722 by Samuel Bernard for his mistress, became a cultural epicenter under Alexandre Joseph de La Pouplinière, a patron passionate about music. He transformed the estate into a gathering place for the great minds of the time, including Rameau and Voltaire.
Today, Théâtre Le Ranelagh continues this legacy by hosting performances that reflect the richness of its artistic past, bridging the prestige of yesterday with contemporary creation.

At the beginning of the 20th century, Le Ranelagh was merely a private music salon of Alice and Louis Mors, who hosted Debussy in 1913. For the first time, the notes of the flute piece ‘Syrinx’ resonated there. They adhered to the Latin maxim inscribed above their salon, sharing their love of music “for my friends and me.”

Becoming a public venue in the early 1930s, Théâtre Le Ranelagh hosted renowned filmmakers like Marcel Carné and innovative productions such as those by Paul Claudel. Its current programming, a blend of reimagined classics and modern creations, continues to reflect this rich legacy.

After Louis Mors, a pioneering industrialist, passed away, his private mansion designed by architect Alban Chambon was sold by his wife Alice in 1925. The new owner, Groupe Immobilière de La Muette, transformed it into a cinema. Théâtre Le Ranelagh soon became a key venue for cinema, with Charles de Saint Poulof and Jean Galan as its first directors. Today, the theater blends its rich architectural and artistic heritage with modern artistic and technical advancements.

Once an art house cinema and a gathering place for icons like Gérard Philippe, Marcel Carné, and Coluche, Théâtre Le Ranelagh transformed in the mid-1980s into a stage that hosts a wide range of live performances, including circus, puppetry, theater, music, and opera. This evolution highlights its adaptability and commitment to artistic innovation. Today, its diverse programming, from silent films to experimental shows, reflects its versatility and dedication to all forms of art.

Théâtre Le Ranelagh, listed as a historic monument since 1977, is an architectural gem with its carved oak decorations and ceiling with 21 coffers. Its programming skillfully combines timeless classics with contemporary works, attracting a diverse audience to 500 performances each season and honoring its rich cultural heritage. Since 2022, under the direction of Benjamin Dumas and Bénédicte Dubois, this legacy continues to thrive!