Collinebourg Hippodrome

Collinebourg Hippodrome
Hippodrome de Collinebourg (Burgoignesc) Collinebourgsche Hippodrom (Gothic)
Side view of the Collinebourg Hippodrome
General information
Architectural style	Neoclassical architecture
Location	Collinebourg, Collinebourg County
Country	Yonderre
Construction started	1853
Completed	1854
Client	City of Collinebourg
Owner	City of Collinebourg
Design and construction
Architect	Reiter Hagenbeck

The Collinebourg Hippodrome is a permanent circus venue located on Talerbeck Square in Centre-Collinebourg, Yonderre. It is also commonly referred to in Gothic as die Zirkusgebäude, the Circus Building. Completed at the height of the Yonderian Golden Age in 1854, the neoclassical Collinebourg Hippodrome was designed by Yonderian architect Reiter Hagenbeck to function as a permanent, year-round venue for circus performances by both Yonderian and foreign circuses. As built in 1854, the Hippodrome also had a tower on its roof that functioned as a viewing platform, but when the roof collapsed due to a fire in 1910 the roof was rebuilt without the tower. It was and is owned by the City of Collinebourg, and revenue from the Collinebourg Hippodrome feeds into the city's treasury.

With the popularization of Yonderian circus in the late eighteenth century came an increasing demand for permanent or semi-permanent venues for circuses to perform in. Prior to the Hippodrome, smaller, wooden buildings were at times erected, intended to last no longer than a couple of seasons. Seen as a cultural prestige project, the Collinebourg Hippodrome was ordered by the Collinebourg Popular Representation in November of 1852 and financed with money from the Collinebourg treasury. Having received several design bids, the Collinebourg Popular Representation chose Yonderian architect Reiter Hagenbeck's design for the Hippodrome, construction beginning in the Spring of 1853.

The Grand Ducal Army Chevalistes Company was the first troupe to perform in the newly opened Collinebourg Hippodrome in May of 1854. Zirque Kranz was the first circus to perform in the Hippodrome, performing there from May-July 1854. A viewing tower on the roof of the Hippodrome which charged an admission fee allowed a limited revenue stream when the Hippodrome was not hosting circuses until it was lost in the 1910 fire. The fire was caused by faulty wiring in the newly installed electric light systems of the Hippodrome. The fire was brought under control only after the wooden roof had collapsed, and due to budgetary restraints caused by the Great Depression the Hippodrome's roof was reconstructed without the tower.

The Collinebourg Hippodrome continues to function as an entertainment venue to the present day. While still chiefly hosting Yonderian circuses, other live entertainment such as award shows, concerts, comedians and fashion shows are sometimes hosted at the Collinebourg Hippodrome.

Gallery

• Collinebourg Hippodrome
• 
  Polar bears performing in the Collinebourg Hippodrome, 1904
• 
  Façade of the Collinebourg Hippodrome, 1905
• 
  Frieze of the Collinebourg Hippodrome depicting horse racing in Ancient Caphiria

See also

• Circus in Yonderre
• Collinebourg
• Yonderian Golden Age § Architecture