The Nicéphore Niépce House Photo Museum is the place where the very first photograph in the world was taken by the inventor of photography himself: Nicéphore Niépce. Among other things, the House contains the oldest photographic studio and laboratory existing today. This world heritage is preserved by Spéos School of Photography, labelled Maisons des Illustres by the Ministry of Culture, and under the patronage of the Academy of Sciences & the Academy of Fine Arts.
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.
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 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.
Discover Burgundy via the “Route de la photo”
Initiated by the museum Maison Nicéphore Niépce, with the collaboration of Jean-Louis Bruley, Manuel Bonnet and the mairie de Saint-Loup-de-Varennes, the “ Route de la Photo ” — a series of photo spots — invites you to discover Burgundy following the footsteps of Nicéphore Niépce, the inventor of photography. To take a picture of the place linked with Niépce and the invention of photography, please put your camera on the monopod! The first 5 photo spots are already set up in Saint-Loup-de-Varennes. Until the remaining photo spots are set up, you can check out the entire “Route de la Photo” on our interactive map.
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.