Maison Nicéphore Niépce – 200 Years of Photography

The Nicéphore Niépce House Photo Museum is the place where the very first photograph in the world was taken by Nicéphore Niépce, the inventor of photography, in 1824.
Among other things, the House contains the oldest photographic studio and laboratory existing today. This world heritage is labelled Maisons des Illustres by the Ministry of Culture, and under the patronage of the Academy of Sciences & the Academy of Fine Arts. It is preserved by Spéos International School of Photography.

Discover TF1’s report on the 200th anniversary of the invention of photography broadcast on November 9 2024 on the 8pm news

“Point de vue du Gras”, first photograph by Niépce.

In 1999, by investigating this historical house that had remained unexplored until then, Pierre-Yves Mahé, Director at the Spéos Photography School, wanted to walk in the footsteps of Niépce, so as to rediscover the path of the man who made the very first photograph.

The two volumes of the print edition of “Niépce correspondance et papiers”

Put online by the Niépce House with the sponsorship of the Académie des sciences and the Académie des beaux-arts, “Niépce correspondance et papiers” by Manuel Bonnet and Jean-Louis Marignier contains
the largest number of documents ever assembled on the inventor of photography.

The world’s oldest photographic studio and laboratory

The photographic studio and lab of Fortuné Joseph Petiot-Groffier is the oldest existing we know of at present (thanks to the receipts, the chemicals can be dated back as far as 1840-41). Since the summer of 2010, the last pieces of this laboratory are on show in the Nicéphore Niépce House.

Prepare your visit to the Nicéphore Niépce House Museum

The house where Niépce took the first photograph in history

Openings

The Nicéphore Niépce House is open each year from July 1st to August 31st only, every day from 10am to 6pm (closed on Tuesdays).

Fees

Adults: €10 / Children: €3 / Students: €5

For off-season visits, please consult Spéos for a quote.