The European Route of Historic Theatres is a
holiday route and
European Cultural Route, that runs through many European countries. It links cities with important historic theatres from the 16th to 19th centuries.
This cultural route was initiated by the members of the organisation, Perspectiv – Association of Historic Theatres in Europe, which was founded in October 2003 with the aim of preserving the cultural heritage of historic theatres in Europe. The head offices of this charitable association are in the Goethe town of
Bad Lauchstädt and city of
Berlin. The project is supported by the Culture programme of the
European Union.
The European Route of Historic Theatres originally consisted of five individually named routes: the German Route, the Nordic Route, The Channel Route, the Italian Route and the Emperor Route. Each links between 9 and 12 towns and cities with important theatre traditions. Cultural tourists can travel directly from the start or finish of any route to another nearby route.
In 2014, two more routes were added: the French and Adriatic Routes. Other routes planned are: the Baltic and Iberian Routes (2015); and the Alpine and Black Sea Routes (2016).
Routes
Nordic Route
The auditorium and stage in the
Confidencen (2011)
Solna (Sweden) – Confidencen, the oldest rococo theatre in Sweden is in
Ulriksdal Palace. It was built in 1753 by the architect, Carl Fredrik Adelcrantz.
Ystad (Sweden) – restored municipal theatre of 1894, large collection of scenery by Swedish theatre artist, Carl Ludvig Grabow.
Halden (
Norway) – Fredrikshald Theatre, built in 1838 to plans by Balthazar Nicolai Garben.
Aarhus (
Denmark) – Helsingör Theatre; the building dates to the year 1817 and was originally in
Helsingør. In 1961 it was dismantled and rebuilt at the
Den Gamle By Open Air Museum.
Putbus – Putbus Theatre, opened in 1821 and converted in 1826 into the North German Classicist style, → links to the Nordic Route via
Rønne (
Bornholm).
Gotha – Ekhof Theatre, was built from 1681 to 1683 in a corner tower at
Friedenstein Castle and may still be seen its original 1775 setting. It is reckoned as the first of the modern German theatres.
Meiningen – Theatre Museum and Court Theatre, important surviving theatre reform under Duke
George II, first court theatre built in 1831, the present one in 1909, architect: Karl Behlert; Theatre Museum (since 1999) with scenery from the reform period.
Ludwigsburg – The Palace Theatre in
Ludwigsburg Palace. It was built in 1758 by Philippe de la Guêpière for Duke
Charles Eugene of Württemberg. In 1812 the auditorium was converted into the Classicist style, was played until 1853 and is still fully preserved today.
Koblenz – Koblenz Theatre, Elector and Bishop
Clemens Wenceslaus of Saxony had a comedy, opera, ballroom and assembly house built which was inaugurated on 23 November 1787 → link to the Channel Route via
Chimay.
Chimay (
Belgium) – Théâtre du château, built 1861 to 1863 by French architect and stage designer, Charles-Antoine Cambon (1802–1875), based on the first
palace theatre at
Fontainebleau. → linke to the German Route via
Koblenz.
Ghent (Belgium) – Opera, opened in 1840 as a luxurious opera house financed by industrialists.
Brussels (Belgium) – Théâtre Royal du Parc, built in 1782 in the English style as an extension of a
vauxhall, a pleasure garden with a café. It was erected in the open at the side of the park. Its architect was
Louis Montoyer.
Leiden (
Netherlands) – Schouwburg, one of the first public theatres in
Holland, built in 1705 by actor, Jacob van Rijndorp, and expanded in 1865 by architect, Jan Willem Schaap.
London (England) – The 1732 Theatre Royal and present
Royal Opera House in Covent Garden and the Theatre Royal Drury Lane; the Theatre Royal in Covent Garden was converted in 1848 into an opera house, the building dates to 1858; Royal Drury Lane opened in 1663, the present theatre dates to 1812, and the auditorium to 1922.
Nottingham (England) – The Malt Cross, a historic theatre and music hall, today a cafe and bar that holds cultural events.
Richmond (England) – Georgian Theatre Royal, municipal theatre and theatre museum, opened in 1788, closed in 1848 and re-opened in 1963, best preserved theatre from the Georgian period.
Vicenza – 1580 to 1585 built Teatro Olimpico, the first covered theatre in the Modern Period in Europe, architect:
Andrea Palladio, → link to the Emperor Route (from 2011).
Bologna – Theatre of the Villa Aldrovandi Mazzacorati, small theatre in a villa surviving in its original state, opened on 24. September 1763.
San Giovanni in Persiceto – Municipal theatre. In 1626 a hall was built as a theatre. In 1659 it was converted to a theatre with box seats, in 1790 it was replaced by an auditorium by architect, Giuseppe Tubertini.
Faenza – Municipal theatre Masini, in an internal court of the Piazza del Popolo, built in 1788 by architect, Giuseppe Pistocchi.
Cesena – Teatro Alessandro Bonci, Neoclassicist building, built between 1843 and 1846 to plans by architect, Vincenzo Ghinelli.
Emperor Route
The Emperor Route was established in 2013 and runs through the
Czech Republic (especially
Bohemia) and
Austria. These two countries were ruled by the emperors from the Habsburg dynasty until 1918, hence the name of this route.[1]
Litomyšl (Czech Republic) – Fully preserved castle theatre dating to 1798, integrated into a 1581 Renaissance palace,
UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Kačina (Czech Republic) – 1851 Classicist building, the castle theatre is still equipped with its original stage technology and wings from the 19th century.
Prague (Czech Republic) – The Estates Theatre (1783/1859) represents 200 years of Czech and German theatre history in Bohemia. The world premiere of
Mozart's opera
Don Giovanni took place here in 1787.