Kolkata, Dec 13 (IANS): After 15 years, the Alliance Francaise in West Bengal is set to return to its original location at the 104-year-old stately Park Mansions, located in Kolkata's Park Street, a statement said Saturday.

It will be inaugurated by French ambassador Francois Richier Dec 16.

"Alliance Francaise, one of the city's oldest cultural bridges with France, is returning to the address where it stood for 59 years till a fire ousted it in 1999," said a statement from the French consulate in Kolkata.

"The French culture hub, then called Alliance Francaise du Calcutta, was housed at Park Mansions ever since it opened in 1940," it said.

The Kolkata centre is historically and naturally affiliated to the international network of the Alliance Francaises in the world (813 Alliance Francaises in 136 countries).

Known, at first, as the Alliance Francaise du Calcutta it was renamed the Alliance Francaise du Bengale in 2007 in order to cover not only the capital but the entire territory of Bengal.

"Back then, Alliance Francaise spread across 8,000 sq. ft. over two apartments. This new coming of the French centre will have an 800 sq ft. room which will host film screenings and conferences while bigger cultural events will use outside venues," it said.

"The 18 feet high ceiling has been retained as also the wooden doors and windows," it said.