Cinéma Le Capitole

Cinéma Capitole, also known as Cinéma Le Capitole, is a historic movie theatre in Lausanne, Switzerland. Opened in 1928, it is described as Lausanne’s oldest cinema and has long been associated with the city’s architectural and cultural heritage. The building was designed by architect Charles Thévenaz in response to demand for a dedicated cinema structure. Its original auditorium contained 1,077 seats, divided between the main floor and balcony, making the venue a substantial public entertainment space for its period. The theatre’s early development followed the transition from silent cinema to sound. In 1930, it presented The Night Is Ours, identified as the first sound film projected at the venue. In 1953, the Capitole received Switzerland’s first panoramic screen, reinforcing its position as a technically important cinema as well as a local landmark. The building was later renovated in 1959 under the direction of Gérald Pauchard, with modernization and redecoration intended to update the interior while retaining its role as a major cinema venue. Ownership and preservation became particularly important in the late twentieth and early twenty-first centuries. Lucienne Schnegg owned the theatre from 1981 until 2010. She had begun working at the cinema as a secretary in the late 1940s and succeeded Matthias Köhn, a previous owner from Luxembourg. During her ownership, Schnegg resisted proposals to sell the property to developers, maintaining that the building should remain a cinema rather than be converted to another use. In 2010, the City of Lausanne purchased the theatre to safeguard the building and make it available to the Swiss Film Archive. This acquisition shifted the Capitole from being primarily a privately owned cinema business to being a publicly preserved cultural venue. A major restoration and modernization project took place from December 2019 through February 2024. The project restored existing architectural and decorative elements and added a second screening room with 140 seats beneath the historic auditorium. The original auditorium had 869 seats before the renovation; after the project, the Capitole was described as having 718 seats and as the largest cinema in operation in Switzerland, while retaining its historic main room. Since 2024, the venue has been operated by the Swiss Film Archive. Its role therefore combines cinema exhibition, architectural preservation, and access to film culture. The brand’s identity is rooted less in a conventional commercial chain model than in the continuity of a single landmark venue. Its principal offering is the public screening of films, supported by the atmosphere, scale, and historical character of the building. The Capitole remains associated with Lausanne and with Switzerland’s broader cinema heritage.

Cinéma Capitole was built in Lausanne in 1928 by architect Charles Thévenaz. The project responded to a desire for a purpose-built cinema in the city and created a large auditorium with 1,077 seats: 802 on the ground floor and 275 in the balcony. The venue became part of Lausanne’s urban entertainment infrastructure during a period when cinema buildings were increasingly designed as prominent public interiors rather than adapted commercial premises. The Capitole adapted to technological changes in film exhibition early in its history. In 1930, it screened The Night Is Ours, identified as the first sound film shown at the cinema. In 1953, Switzerland’s first panoramic screen was installed there, giving the venue a notable place in the country’s exhibition history. The building underwent a significant renovation in 1959, led by Gérald Pauchard, which modernized and redecorated the cinema while preserving its function as a major auditorium. Lucienne Schnegg owned the theatre from 1981 to 2010. Her connection with the venue began much earlier: she had been employed there as a secretary in the late 1940s and later succeeded Matthias Köhn, a previous owner from Luxembourg. Schnegg rejected attempts to sell the cinema to property developers, arguing that the building should continue to serve as a cinema. Her ownership is consequently associated with the preservation of the venue’s original cultural purpose. The City of Lausanne acquired the property in 2010. The purchase was intended to protect the landmark and make it available to the Swiss Film Archive. This public acquisition provided a basis for a long-term restoration project. Renovation work began in December 2019 and continued until February 2024. The project restored historic architectural and decorative features and created a second projection room with 140 seats below the principal auditorium. Before the renovation, the historic theatre had 869 seats. Following the project, the Capitole was described as having 718 seats and as the largest cinema still operating in Switzerland. From 2024 onward, the Swiss Film Archive has operated the venue. The Capitole therefore functions as both a cinema and a preserved cultural building. Its significance rests on the continuity of its use, its surviving architectural character, its technical milestones, and its connection with Swiss film preservation. Rather than representing a multi-site commercial cinema chain, it is a single landmark venue whose identity is closely tied to Lausanne and to national film culture.

• 2024

  Restoration completed and new room added

  [1]Cinéma Capitoleen.wikipedia.org

  The renovation concluded in February 2024, including restoration work and construction of a 140-seat secondary screening room.

• 2024

  Swiss Film Archive begins operation

  [1]Cinéma Capitoleen.wikipedia.org

  The Swiss Film Archive became the operator of the restored cinema.

• 2019

  Restoration project begins

  [1]Cinéma Capitoleen.wikipedia.org

  A comprehensive renovation began in December, combining restoration of the historic building with modernization of its screening facilities.

• 2010

  Lausanne acquires the cinema

  [1]Cinéma Capitoleen.wikipedia.org

  The City of Lausanne purchased the Capitole to preserve it and make it available to the Swiss Film Archive.

• 1981

  Lucienne Schnegg becomes owner

  [1]Cinéma Capitoleen.wikipedia.org

  Lucienne Schnegg took ownership of the cinema, having previously worked there as a secretary.

• 1959

  Building renovated and redecorated

  [1]Cinéma Capitoleen.wikipedia.org

  Gérald Pauchard led a renovation that modernized and redecorated the cinema.

• 1953

  First Swiss panoramic screen installed

  [1]Cinéma Capitoleen.wikipedia.org

  The cinema installed Switzerland’s first panoramic screen.

• 1930

  First sound film screened

  [1]Cinéma Capitoleen.wikipedia.org

  The Night Is Ours was projected at the Capitole as the venue’s first sound film.

• 1928

  Cinema building constructed

  [1]Cinéma Capitoleen.wikipedia.org

  Charles Thévenaz designed and built the Capitole in Lausanne as a purpose-built cinema. The original venue contained 1,077 seats.

A heritage cinema and film-cultural venue in Lausanne, positioned around architectural preservation, historical continuity, and large-format public film exhibition.

• Cinema screening venue · 1928

  Historic Capitole auditorium

  The principal auditorium is the defining offering of the Capitole brand. It preserves the character of the historic cinema while supporting contemporary public film exhibition. The venue had 869 seats before the 2019–2024 renovation and is described after the renovation as part of a 718-seat cinema complex.

• Cinema screening venue · 2024

  Secondary screening room

  A second projection room was created beneath the historic auditorium during the major renovation completed in 2024. The room provides 140 seats and expands the venue’s exhibition capacity without replacing the principal heritage space.

• Cinema exhibition · 1928

  Film screenings

  The Capitole’s core service is the public screening of films in Lausanne. Its programming role is connected to the venue’s operation by the Swiss Film Archive and to the cinema’s long history as a prominent Swiss exhibition site.

• 2024

  Swiss Film Archive assumes operationStrategy

  Background

  Following the restoration, the venue was intended to serve as a film-cultural facility connected to Switzerland’s national film archive.

  Action taken

  The Swiss Film Archive began operating the Capitole.

  Aftermath

  The cinema’s operating model became more closely integrated with film preservation and cultural programming.

  Source

• 2019

  Comprehensive restoration and expansionOther

  Background

  The historic cinema required restoration while continuing to serve as a modern film venue.

  Action taken

  Renovation work began in December 2019, restoring architectural and decorative elements and adding a second screening room.

  Aftermath

  The project was completed in February 2024. The new room has 140 seats, and the restored venue continued operating as a major Swiss cinema.

  Renovation cost. Estimated at approximately CHF 18 million → Final cost reported as approximately CHF 22 million (2019–2024 renovation)

  Source

• 2010

  Public acquisition to preserve the cinemaStrategy

  Background

  The City of Lausanne sought to preserve the historic cinema and make it available to the Swiss Film Archive.

  Action taken

  The city purchased the Capitole from its private ownership.

  Aftermath

  The acquisition established a public-preservation framework for the venue and preceded its later restoration and operation by the Swiss Film Archive.

  Source

1. 1Cinéma Capitoleen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Cinéma Le Capitole official websitelecapitole.ch