Le Coliseum

Le Coliseum is a historic entertainment venue located in the Ville-Basse district on rue de Marchienne in Charleroi, Belgium. It was constructed in 1921 by architect Joseph André for the company La Cornillière. The company also built Coliseum venues in Liège and Verviers. Over the decades, the building's function changed: it began as a performance hall, became a cinema after World War II, and later operated as a discotheque. The building is noted for its monumental entrance hall, sgraffito decorations, floral stained glass, and ironwork, with a capacity of 600 to 1,400 people thanks to its balconies. The facade is eclectic in style, covered in plaster and divided into two levels. After its acquisition in 2013, the site was renovated and its architectural program transformed; the former cinema hall was replaced by shops, and its surfaces cannot be used as a performance hall or for Horeca. The original interiors were partially preserved during the architectural intervention. The venue's current status is unclear, and the official website domain appears to be listed for sale.

Le Coliseum was built in 1921 by architect Joseph André for the company La Cornillière. The company had commissioned architect Jean Lejaer to construct three entertainment venues named Coliseum in Liège, Verviers, and Charleroi. Lejaer gave more attention to the Liège projects, so the Charleroi Coliseum was taken over and completed by Joseph André. On 23 March 1944, Stan Brenders and his Radio-Bruxelles orchestra performed there. Over time, the building's programming changed: it went from a performance hall to a cinema after World War II and then to a discotheque. The building features a monumental entrance hall decorated according to the tastes of the bourgeoisie of the time, with sgraffito, floral stained glass, and ironwork. The hall can accommodate between 600 and 1,400 people thanks to the presence of balconies. The facade is eclectic in style, covered with plaster, and divided into two levels. The pilasters are intersected by wide string courses and structure the framework. After its acquisition in 2013, the Coliseum site was renovated and its architectural program transformed. The former cinema hall was replaced by shops, and its surfaces cannot be used as a performance hall or for Horeca. The original interiors were partially preserved during the architectural intervention.

• 2013

  The Coliseum site is acquired and subsequently renovated, with its architectural program transformed.

• 1944

  Stan Brenders and his Radio-Bruxelles orchestra perform at Le Coliseum on 23 March.

• 1921

  Le Coliseum is built by architect Joseph André for the company La Cornillière.

1. 1Le Coliseum official websitelecoliseum.be
2. 2Wikidata: Le Coliseumwikidata.org
3. 3Coliseum de Charleroi - Wikipédiafr.wikipedia.org