At the beginning of July 2025, the Basse-Cour, a new cultural and community venue located on Borelly Street, opened its doors. This marked the start of the year with the first general assembly to review the season, present upcoming projects, and introduce the cultural team’s committees.
Led by Céline Mistral, the owner of the site that once housed the Bories lemonade factory in the 20th century, the collective, composed of about fifteen individuals, aimed from the outset “to bring this cultural henhouse to life, open to diverse multidisciplinary and intergenerational encounters.”
Everyone contributed to transforming the space into a performance stage and bar, designed to foster artistic and cultural performances. The initial season focused on establishing the venue, and after six months of work, it was immediately successful, drawing a vibrant atmosphere. “It goes smoothly! We have built a loyal audience, sometimes not knowing exactly what to expect,” Céline and co-chair Catherine Troussier noted.
The first concert on July 10 set the tone for the festival “Troubadours Sing Romanesque Art,” featuring the duo La Béluga with Céline Mistral on vocals and Fred Montels on instruments. The following month, the artistic hubs of Basse Cour and Vivoir Artistique welcomed the audience with multiple classical music performances.
This season aims to offer a diverse artistic program enriched with workshops, emphasizing the return of live performances rather than passive cultural consumption, showing a preference for festivals. The reopening is scheduled for Easter Sunday on April 5 with a family show, an Easter egg hunt, and a concert.
“We invite you to join in creating a more lively and vibrant season. You can support the project by becoming a member, providing regular or occasional assistance, or simply by being present,” the statement concludes.
On Valentine’s Day, friends of Basse-Cour celebrated with hot chocolate, sharing warmth and laughter over cups of crepes and eggs.
