Théâtre du Chêne noir, Historic theater in Avignon, France
Théâtre du Chêne noir occupies a former abbey building featuring a single nave, an octagonal apse, and a distinctive staircase tower on its front elevation. The interior retains architectural elements from its monastic origins while functioning as a contemporary performance venue.
The building began as Saint Catherine's Abbey in 1060, housing a Cistercian community until its closure during the French Revolution in 1790. It subsequently served other purposes before gaining monument protection status in 1974 and eventually becoming a theater.
The theater serves as a vital stage for contemporary performance in Avignon, hosting both French and international productions throughout the year. Audiences come here to experience diverse artistic expressions presented in a space that connects past and present.
The theater sits on rue Sainte Catherine in central Avignon and offers wheelchair access for visitors with mobility needs. Tickets can be purchased online or at the venue to suit your preferred booking method.
Between its closure as a religious site and its current use as a theater, the building functioned as a garage for a period of time. This unexpected intermediate use reveals how spaces can transform through entirely different purposes before finding their cultural identity.
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