Théâtre de Saumur

The cultural venue of Saumur is the Théâtre Le Dôme, a nineteenth-century theatre in the centre of the town, and it stands in contrast to the medieval castle that dominates the skyline above the Loire. Saumur is a town of horses, wine and culture, and the theatre belongs to that cultural side of the town.

The theatre was designed by the architect Charles Joly-Leterme, who was active in Saumur in the mid-nineteenth century, and was built between 1864 and 1866, in the period when towns across France were building theatres as symbols of civic pride. Its design follows the classical style of the time, with a monumental front, columns and a pediment, and a domed roof, from which it takes the name Le Dôme. The interior is an Italian-style hall with tiers of seats and boxes, and it was restored between 2011 and 2014, so that the historic atmosphere was kept while stage technology, accessibility and acoustics were modernised. It is used for a wide range of performances, including theatre, music, opera and symphonic concerts, dance and circus arts, and the programme changes through the season, so check what is on and book in advance.

Saumur has a long tradition of the arts and of equestrian culture. The town is the home of the Cadre Noir, the national riding school, and its cavalry school, and the Musée du Cheval in the château commemorates the horse. The Château de Saumur, built on a rock above the Loire from the Middle Ages, is a fairy-tale building that is shown in the illuminated manuscript of the Très Riches Heures du duc de Berry, and it holds the town's museum, with decorative arts and equestrian collections, and a terrace with views of the Loire. The old town below has narrow streets with half-timbered houses and tuffeau stone buildings, and the town is a centre of sparkling wine, produced in caves dug into the tuffeau cliffs, which can be visited and tasted, including the Caves de Saumur.

The theatre suits lovers of music and the performing arts and visitors who want an evening out after a day of sightseeing. Combine it with the old town, the Place du Château and the Loire quays. Allow an evening for a performance, and check the dates and ticket prices on the theatre's programme.