We have a big announcement to make.
04 February 2026
The Cirque d'Hiver Bouglione is preparing its restoration for your comfort and to regain its forgotten splendor.
We are launching a major restoration project for the Cirque d’Hiver Bouglione, designed both for the comfort of our current audiences and for the preservation of this exceptional historical monument.
A project born from your feedback
For several seasons, you have shared your comments with us regarding seat comfort, row width, circulation within the stands, and heating management. This project directly addresses this feedback: modernizing the audience experience, improving comfort and accessibility, while respecting the spirit of the Cirque d’Hiver. The objective is simple: better visibility, better seating, better circulation, without altering the unique geometry of the venue.
Greater Comfort and Accessibility
All the seats will be replaced in the coming years, starting with the ground floor in the summer of 2026. In the stalls, new layouts will allow for the installation of spaces for people with reduced mobility, while preserving the visual unity of the cavea.
A Historic Jewel Rediscovered
Beyond comfort, this project is a unique opportunity to restore the Cirque d’Hiver to its original heritage splendor. The interior decorations designed in the 19th century by Jacques Ignace Hittorff will be progressively restored and revealed:
- The large equestrian frescoes, currently hidden behind successive layers of covering, will be inventoried, restored, and highlighted.
- The colonnades, friezes, and Corinthian capitals, most of which are obscured or partially lost, will be reconstructed using original elements and period documentation.
- The stained-glass window frames of the upper drum and the lantern will be recreated with their polychrome stained glass.
- The canvas covering the hall's ceiling—this veritable "velarium" that gives the place its magic—will eventually undergo a major restoration. The current study prioritizes a faithful reproduction of its patterns and brilliance, capturing the spirit of the decor as it was described in the 19th century.
A multi-stage project
To ensure we can continue to welcome you, the work will be carried out in phases: the tiered seating and stalls will be restored starting in the summer of 2026, followed by the balconies in the summer of 2027. The restoration of the colonnades, friezes, frescoes, stained glass windows, circus tent, and crowning sculpture will be carried out gradually until 2029.
In conclusion,
Throughout this process, the Bouglione family and the Clé Millet Architectes agency have opted for reversible or easily dismantled solutions to guarantee the long-term preservation of the monument, which has been listed as a Historical Monument since 1975.
The Cirque d’Hiver will thus continue to write its story, remaining the performance venue you know, while retaining its most authentic splendor.
