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Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Nicéphore-Niepce Museum is a museum dedicated to the history of photography, inaugurated in 1974 in Chalon-sur-Saône. It is labeled Musée de France and pays tribute to Nicéphore Niépce (1765–33), inventor of photography. Located in a former Royal Messengers Hotel, it preserves historical collections of appliances, objects belonging to Niépce, as well as old and contemporary photographs.

The origin of the museum dates back to 1861, when Jules Chevrier, president of the Society of History and Archaeology of Chalon-sur-Saône, recovered the collections of Nicéphore Niépce and exhibited them at the Musée Vivant Denon. In 1972, the city decided to create a space entirely dedicated to photography. The museum opened two years later, under the direction of Paul Jay (1974–1996), followed by François Cheval (1996–2016) and Brigitte Maurice-Chabard (since 2018).

The museum houses nearly four million images, more than one million negatives (including the Combier fonds), 1,500 cameras (including the first five in the world), and 10,000 specialized works. It offers permanent and temporary exhibitions, as well as support for creation through artist residences. Its building, built in the 20th century, combines reinforced concrete and modernist decorative elements, reflecting the architectural techniques of the time.

Ranked a Historical Monument in 2012 for its facades, roofs and interior elements (vestibulum, stairwell, honorary lounge), the museum is managed by the Burgundy-Franche-Comté region. It plays a key role in the preservation and dissemination of photographic heritage, while exploring the contemporary issues of the medium.

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