Maison européenne de la photographie Museum
Contemporary photography museum and exhibition space
In Paris's Marais district, the Maison européenne de la photographie mounts contemporary photography exhibitions, artist archives and print displays. Visitors attend thematic shows and explore the museum's photographic collections.
Maison européenne de la photographie at a Glance#
Website: https://www.mep-fr.org/
About Maison européenne de la photographie#
The Maison européenne de la photographie (MEP) is a Paris museum in the Marais dedicated to contemporary photographic art and visual culture. It presents temporary exhibitions, archival material and a public library devoted to photography.
Rotating exhibitions feature contemporary photographers, thematic group shows and retrospectives, supported by an extensive photographic library and an archive accessible for research. Exhibition spaces are concentrated within a converted 19th-century building close to the Seine.
Founded in the 1990s as a centre for photographic exhibitions and research, the MEP has focused on contemporary practice and on building a research library and archives for the medium. It has established a reputation for changing solo and group exhibitions.
Sited in the 4th arrondissement near the Hôtel de Sens and the Seine, the museum is in the Marais neighbourhood of central Paris.
- Library and archive: Located in Paris’s Marais district, the museum maintains an archive and library in addition to rotating exhibition galleries focused on contemporary photography.
How to Get to Maison européenne de la photographie#
The MEP is in the 4th arrondissement of Paris, a short walk from the Hôtel de Ville and the Seine. Metro stations nearby include Saint-Paul (Line 1) and Hôtel de Ville (Lines 1 and 11). Walkable from Bastille and the Île Saint-Louis.
Tips for Visiting Maison européenne de la photographie#
- Check the temporary exhibition schedule online - MEP's shows are often thematic and short-run, and pay attention to the small publication shop for photo books hard to find elsewhere.
- Visit late on a weekday to take in both the main shows and the smaller project rooms that often host emerging photographers.
- The building is small; don't rush. A single generous exhibition can take an hour if one reads the curatorial text and captions.
Best Time to Visit Maison européenne de la photographie#
Photography houses are steady year-round; avoid Saturday afternoons if looking for quiet.
Weather & Climate near Maison européenne de la photographie#
Maison européenne de la photographie's climate is classified as Oceanic - Oceanic climate with warm summers (peaking in July) and cold winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from 2°C to 25°C. Moderate rainfall (677 mm/year), distributed fairly evenly throughout the year.
| Month | Comfort | Temp | Feels | Rain | Sky | Humidity | Wind | UV | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Poor | 2° - 7° | 1° | 54 mm | overcast | 92% | 4.4 m/s | 0.1 low | 8.6h |
| February | Poor | 2° - 8° | 2° | 49 mm | overcast | 87% | 4.2 m/s | 0.2 low | 10.0h |
| March | Acceptable | 4° - 12° | 6° | 62 mm | partly cloudy | 82% | 4.4 m/s | 0.5 low | 11.7h |
| April | Good | 6° - 15° | 11° | 57 mm | partly cloudy | 77% | 4.3 m/s | 0.9 moderate | 13.5h |
| May | Good | 10° - 20° | 15° | 64 mm | overcast | 76% | 3.9 m/s | 1.2 high | 15.0h |
| June | Excellent | 13° - 22° | 18° | 56 mm | partly cloudy | 75% | 3.8 m/s | 1.5 high | 15.8h |
| July | Very Good | 15° - 25° | 20° | 62 mm | partly cloudy | 72% | 3.5 m/s | 1.5 high | 15.5h |
| August | Excellent | 15° - 25° | 20° | 44 mm | partly cloudy | 72% | 3.3 m/s | 1.2 high | 14.1h |
| September | Very Good | 12° - 21° | 17° | 55 mm | partly cloudy | 76% | 3.5 m/s | 0.8 moderate | 12.4h |
| October | Good | 9° - 16° | 12° | 62 mm | overcast | 84% | 3.7 m/s | 0.4 low | 10.7h |
| November | Acceptable | 5° - 11° | 5° | 55 mm | overcast | 91% | 3.9 m/s | 0.1 low | 9.1h |
| December | Poor | 3° - 8° | 2° | 57 mm | overcast | 93% | 4.3 m/s | 0.1 low | 8.2h |
