Maison Nicéphore Niépce

Photo : Arnaud 25 (CC BY-SA 3.0)

Figures & Themes

Maison Nicéphore Niépce

Saint-Loup-de-Varennes · Saône-et-Loire · Bourgogne-Franche-Comté

The Nicéphore Niépce House is a museum located in Saint-Loup-de-Varennes in Saône-et-Loire, dedicated to the history of the invention of photography. The site preserves the place where Nicéphore Niépce created the first photograph in the world in 1824, as well as the oldest known photographic studio and laboratory to date, dating from 1840-1841. The museum presents the evolution of photographic processes and Niépce's technical innovations, notably photogravure and the bitumen process. Labeled as a House of Illustrious Figures by the Ministry of Culture, the establishment is placed under the patronage of the Academy of Sciences and the Academy of Fine Arts, and is managed by the Spéos school of photography. The museum is open seasonally during the summer and also offers online documentary resources dedicated to the life and correspondence of the inventor.

Practical information

Opening hours

Today · 10:00–18:00

See the rest of the week
Monday
10:00–18:00
Tuesday
Closed
Wednesday
10:00–18:00
Thursday
10:00–18:00
Friday
10:00–18:00
Saturday
10:00–18:00

Hours may vary by season. See current hours →

Address

15 D906

Phone number

+33 3 85 94 84 60

Getting there

Nearest station

Chalon-sur-Saône, 6.1 km away. A car or taxi is essential.

Parking

About 900 m away.

Reference city

15 min by car from Chalon-sur-Saône.

Distances and times calculated from © OpenStreetMap contributors data · calculated on 2 September 2026

Galleries nearby: Atelier Saint Jean (5.9 km), Atrium (6.0 km), Galerie Saint-Vincent (6.0 km).

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