It is a symbol for Lorient. Since this Wednesday, May 20, 2026, the white letters of the old Le Rex cinema are no longer displayed on rue Paul-Bert. They were removed, one by one, to be able to install an all-wood facade covering the emblematic storefront. “When she saw the letters on the ground, a lady shed a few tears,” says Mathieu Clémence, business manager at the Icônes printing company which was entrusted with the installation of this temporary facade. By this Friday, May 22, the wooden sections will be covered by a display,” he specifies. This will provide information on the ongoing rehabilitation project of the old Lorient cinema.
The iconic white letters have been removed. They will be kept “nicely warm” assures the project leader, the real estate developer Marignan. (Le Télégramme/Isabelle Demangeat)
Several aborted projects
Opened in 1958, the establishment housed a projection room with 1,056 seats, with a balcony. Faced with a drop in attendance, two commercial spaces were created in 1981, on either side of the building. But that is not enough. In 1999, Le Rex closed its doors definitively. Rehabilitation projects were then thought of, but nothing came to fruition. The Lorient association J’ai vu un documentary proposes in particular an idea for a cinema-bistro. For the City, the project is “interesting for the cinema side” but does not “find its financial balance”, explains today the mayor, Fabrice Loher – the project will finally see the light of day at the Manège*. And in terms of accommodation, “it was not satisfactory”.
A residential building, shops and a redevelopment of the block
A start of work “at best mid-2027”
The site then begins to suffer from the passage of time. Until May 10, when a letter from the City of Lorient informed residents of a “preliminary project” for the requalification of the building. Supported by the real estate developer Marignan, it is intended, it is announced, to “accommodate a residential building, shops and a redevelopment of the island”. “Before any planning authorization, a public inquiry will be organized after the summer of 2026,” it is specified. This will be preceded by a “public meeting”, the submission of the building permit being “envisioned between the end of 2026 and the beginning of 2027”. “If we submit the building permit at the end of the year and we imagine a three-month instruction and three months of administrative delays, the work could begin at best mid-2027,” says Romain Le Baron, head of land development for the Marignan company, who specifies: “On this type of project, the work generally lasts 20 months.”
For what concrete result? “Too early to say it”, says Marignan when Fabrice Loher mentions “around forty housing units”. “There will be commerce on the façade of rue Paul-Bert”, adds the councilor who speaks of “completely deconstructing and rebuilding in the spirit of the place with a bay window which will recall the front of the Rex”. “The idea is really to preserve as much of the historical footprint of the site as possible,” explains Romain Le Baron. In Lorient, everyone has someone in their family who went to see a film at the Rex.” This is the case of Philippe, 66, who lingers, this Wednesday, May 20, in front of the new facade and on the history traced by the Icônes printing company. “It’s good that things are moving”, we react at Étoile, the store which faces the front now deprived of letters. Marignan specifies that these will be “kept very warm”. Regarding their restoration, “we are not there yet but the inscription of the Rex will remain clearly visible”, we assure. Enough to console, a little, this lady moved by the deposition.
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