La Ciotat's Eden Theatre: World's Oldest Active Cinema

The Eden Theatre in La Ciotat, France, is recognized by Guinness World Records as the oldest cinema still in operation. Built in 1889, it hosted its first public film screening on March 21, 1899, featuring 19 Lumière films. The Lumière family, inventors of the cinematograph, had strong ties to La Ciotat. Louis Lumière filmed several early shorts there in summer-autumn 1895, including 'L'Arrivée d'un train en gare de La Ciotat' and a version of 'L'Arroseur arrosé,' the first film with a plot. The first private film projection occurred on September 21, 1895, at the Lumière family's Château du Clos des Plages (Palais Lumière) for about 150 guests. After years of decline, the Eden was fully restored and reopened on October 9, 2013, as part of Marseille-Provence 2013 European Capital of Culture. Today it hosts festivals like the Festival du premier film francophone (since 1982), Lumexplore (since 2016), and Le Cri di Court. Notable visitors have included Georges Clemenceau, Fernandel, Edith Piaf, Charles Trenet, Yves Montand, Jean-Paul Belmondo, Fanny Ardant, and Claude Lelouch.