Cinéma-théâtre le Varia, former cinema in Charleroi, Belgium

Cinéma-théâtre le Varia is a movie theater and performance venue built in the early 1910s in Jumet near Charleroi with notable Art Nouveau design elements including large balconies. The structure shows the construction techniques of that era, including reinforced concrete used to support the main hall and other spaces.

Built between 1910 and 1913 to designs by the Liège architect Émile Claes, the Varia is one of the last surviving cinema-theatres from before the First World War. It served as a theatre and music-hall stage, then as a cinema, and finally as a dance hall with the Germinettes troupe founded by Germaine Willig on 19 May 1947. In 1992 its facades and one roof slope were listed as monuments, and in 2000 the Walloon Heritage Institute bought the building.

The theater served as a gathering place for opera performances, dance shows, and film screenings that drew people from across the region. It played an important role in the cultural life of Charleroi, offering entertainment for people of all backgrounds.

Access to the building requires advance contact since it is currently closed and protected as heritage. Visitors should reach out to the Walloon Heritage Institute to learn about possible visits or tours.

The building was bought by the Walloon Heritage Institute in 2000 for 200,000 euros, which then spent 315,000 euros repairing the roof and structural concrete. The facade and one roof slope had been listed as monuments in 1992. Lack of parking has long been cited as an obstacle to turning it into a cultural venue.