Kursaal (Besançon, France)
Kursaal
The Kursaal Besançon is a building originally designed to accommodate a circus designed for spa guests and soldiers stationed in Besancon at the end of the XIX-th century. The building is located at number one, Place du Théâtre, in the heart of the historic center.
During the end of the XIX-th century, Switzerland and Germany, and more generally Europe saw the emergence of considerable success for spas. In many towns, baths were built, notably in Besançon where in 1891 the Compagnie des Bains-Salins de la Mouillère was created: it was then that Besançon took the name of Besançon-les-Bains.
In 1892, Madame Veuve Péllegrin made the wish to build a performance hall for curists as well as for soldiers stationed in the city. The planned future building will be equipped with a room to accommodate a circus (the future "Grand Kursaal") and a large brasserie (the main building now housing the Proudhon room).
The building was officially opened at the end of 1893, but the heavy financial costs and the owner, Madame Péllegrin, could no longer repay the loans taken out for the construction of the building. The kursaal and its annex buildings will be seized.
March 14, 1895, after deliberation of the Municipal Council of Besançon, the City decides to buy the building. The Besançon kursaal then becomes the city's main party hall.
For reasons of obsolescence, the Municipality closed the establishment in 1970.
At the request of Mayor Robert Schwint, the City proceeded in 1979 to a complete renovation of the building and the creation of a conference room in the basement, which would become the future Petit Kursaal. In September 1982, the Kursaal was inaugurated.
Today, the Besançon kursaal hosts balls, conferences, boards of directors, various exhibitions, cinema sessions, theatrical performances, a few political meetings as well as concerts.