All photography museums to visit in France

Capture the essence of photography at 25 museums in France dedicated to this visual art form. These museums showcase historical and contemporary photographs, equipment, and techniques.

Are you a photography enthusiast? These are the best photography museums in France:

  1. Army Museum1

    Army Museum

     Paris
    The Musée de l'Armée (the Army Museum) in paris is located in the Cathédrale de Saint-Louis-des-Invalides, which is part of the Hôtel des Invalides in Paris. Its historical military collection comprises more than 500,000 objects from the Middle Ages to modern times, including pieces like photos, pai
  2. Bartholdi Museum2

    Bartholdi Museum

     Colmar
    The Musée Bartholdi is a museum located in Colmar, France, dedicated to the life and works of the renowned French sculptor Auguste Bartholdi. The museum is situated at 30 rue des Marchands, the birthplace of the artist. It offers a unique opportunity to delve into the life and creative process of Bartholdi, providing a deeper understanding of his works.
  3. Albert-Kahn Museum and Garden3

    Albert-Kahn Museum and Garden

     Boulogne-Billancourt
    The museum of photography and large gardens were created by Kahn, a banker and a philanthropist. There are species from all around the world.
  4. Cartier Foundation for Contemporary Art4

    Cartier Foundation for Contemporary Art

     Paris
    The Cartier Foundation, also known as Fondation Cartier, is a notable building in Paris that houses the Cartier Foundation for Contemporary Art. It is situated on Raspail Boulevard in the Montparnasse district of Paris, France. The building was inaugurated in 1994 and has since been a significant location for contemporary art.
  5. Centre Pompidou5

    Centre Pompidou

     Paris
    The Center Georges Pompidou, or just Centre Pompidou is a leading center for modern art in Paris. It was opened in February 1977, by former French President Pompidou, who wanted a large public center in Paris where all forms of modern art and cultural expressions could find a home. This inside-out b
  6. Museum of Brittany6

    Museum of Brittany

     Rennes
    The Brittany Museum, known as Musée de Bretagne in French, is a social history museum situated in the Champs Libres cultural centre in Rennes, France. The museum is dedicated to the conservation, study, and presentation of the history of Brittany and Breton heritage from prehistory to the present day. It provides a comprehensive overview of the region's history and culture, making it a significant destination for those interested in understanding Brittany's past and present.
  7. Musee d'Art7

    Musee d'Art

     Toulon
    The Museo d'arte di Tolone, located in Toulon, is a significant center for the conservation and exhibition of the municipal collections of the city. It is a place where visitors can explore a wide range of artworks and historical artifacts, providing a deep insight into the city's cultural heritage.
  8. Photography Museum8

    Photography Museum

     Mougins
    The Photography Museum André Villers, established in 1986, is located in the French town of Mougins. This museum is named after André Villers, a friend and personal photographer of Picasso. It is a significant destination for those interested in photography and the history of photographic equipment.
  9. Regional Museum of History and Ethnography9

    Regional Museum of History and Ethnography

     Fort-de-France
    The Regional Museum of History and Ethnography is situated in the city of Fort-de-France, on the Caribbean island of Martinique. This location makes it easily accessible for tourists visiting the island, and its central location in the city allows for easy exploration of the surrounding area.
  10. Réattu Museum10

    Réattu Museum

     Arles
    Musée Réattu, located in Arles, is an art museum that houses a diverse collection of artworks. This includes paintings by the Arles-born painter Jacques Réattu and drawings by Picasso. The museum also features a variety of sculptures and a large collection of photographs. This wide range of art forms makes the museum a diverse and interesting place to visit for art enthusiasts.
  11. Maison européenne de la photographie11

    Maison européenne de la photographie

     Paris
    The Maison Européenne de la Photographie (MEP) is a center for contemporary photographic art in Paris that holds and exhibits a collection dedicated to contemporary creation. It consists of around 20,000 works of art, mostly photographs (silver and digital photography) and videos. The Maison europée
  12. Eugene Boudin Museum12

    Eugene Boudin Museum

     Honfleur
    The Musée Eugène Boudin, situated in the northern French town of Honfleur in the Calvados department of Normandy, is a museum dedicated to art and cultural history. It offers visitors a chance to immerse themselves in a significant collection of pre-impressionist paintings and works by Norman painters who have stayed in Honfleur.
  13. Chateau d'Eau13

    Chateau d'Eau

     Toulouse
    The Château d'Eau is a photography gallery housed in a nineteenth century water tower situated in Toulouse. The museum was founded in 1974 by Jean Dieuzaide, a French photographer from Toulouse, making it one of the oldest public places solely dedicated to photography.
  14. Musée Gassendi14

    Musée Gassendi

     Digne-les-Bains
    The Gassendi Museum, situated at 64 Boulevard Gassendi in Digne-les-Bains, serves a dual purpose as a natural history museum and a fine arts museum. This unique combination allows visitors to explore a wide range of exhibits, from historical artifacts and natural specimens to beautiful works of art. The museum was established in the late 19th century and has since been a significant cultural institution in the region.
  15. Pavillon Populaire15

    Pavillon Populaire

     Montpellier
    The Pavillon Populaire, located on the Esplanade Charles de Gaulle in Montpellier, has been a space dedicated to photographic art since the late 1990s. This unique venue offers visitors the opportunity to explore a variety of photographic exhibitions, showcasing the work of both established and emerging artists. The museum's location in the heart of Montpellier makes it easily accessible for tourists.
  16. Museum Of The Sea16

    Museum Of The Sea

     Sète
    The Museum of the Sea is a prominent feature of the city of Sète, situated in a prime location facing the Mediterranean Sea. It is nestled between two other significant landmarks - the marine cemetery of Sète and the Sea Theater. This strategic location offers visitors not only a rich cultural experience but also stunning views of the surrounding seascape.
  17. Fondation Henri Cartier-Bresson17

    Fondation Henri Cartier-Bresson

     Paris
    The Henri Cartier-Bresson Foundation is a private foundation in Paris that is dedicated to the memory, preservation and enhancement of the photographic work of Henri Cartier-Bresson (a French humanist photographer considered a master of candid photography, and an early user of 35 mm film) and his wi
  18. Maison de la Photographie18

    Maison de la Photographie

     Toulon
    The Maison de la Photographie in Toulon is a French museum situated in the city of Toulon, in the Var department. The museum offers both temporary and permanent exhibitions, providing a variety of photographic works for visitors to explore.
  19. Museum of National Resistance19

    Museum of National Resistance

     Champigny-sur-Marne
    The Museum of National Resistance (MRN) is a network of museums dedicated to the French Resistance during World War II. Its main site is located in Champigny-sur-Marne, a town situated to the east of Paris. This museum is part of a larger network that includes other sites across France, making it a significant point of interest for those interested in the history of the French Resistance.
  20. Cité des Arts20

    Cité des Arts

     Besançon
    The Cité des Arts is a cultural and tourist center located in Besançon, in the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region of France. It was designed by the French agency Archidev in collaboration with Japanese architect Kengo Kuma and was inaugurated on April 5, 2013. The center houses the Besançon Regional Conservatory and the Franche-Comté Regional Contemporary Art Fund.
  21. Museum of Fine Arts21

    Museum of Fine Arts

     Saint-Lô
    The Museum of Art and History, previously known as the Museum of Fine Arts, is situated in the Jean Lurçat Cultural Center in Saint-Lô. This museum is home to a significant collection of paintings from the 17th to the 20th century, some of which come from various donations. The museum also houses historical pieces such as the Thorigny marble, tapestries of Gombault and Macée's loves, a lapidary from the Notre-Dame church, and a 15th-century monetary treasure.
  22. Alpilles Museum22

    Alpilles Museum

     Saint-Rémy-de-Provence
    The Alpilles Museum is a cultural institution located in the charming town of Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, in the Bouches-du-Rhône department of France. This museum offers visitors a chance to delve into the rich history and culture of the region.
  23. 23

    Yellowkorner

     Lille
    This contemporary gallery presents a wide panorama of worldwide photography. Its attentive staff will guide you through the whole exhibition.
  24. 24

    Museum of Photography Charles Negre

     Nice
    The Museum of Photography Charles Negre is a museum in Nice that organises temporary monographic exhibitions on the biggest names in photography along with theme-based exhibitions that present all the trends from the earliest photographs to digital pictures. One of the missions of the Museum of Phot
  25. 25

    Maison de la Mémoire et du Patrimoine

     Chamonix-Mont-Blanc
    Get to know the history of Chamonix valley through photographs and various other documents. It is situated in a 19th-century building.