The Hangar du Premier Film is the world's oldest site dedicated to film production.
The first film, 'La Sortie de l'usine Lumière à Lyon,' was shot directly outside the factory hangar located on the museum grounds.
The Lumière brothers also held patents for color photography through the Autochrome process, which is showcased in the collection.
The villa was built by Antoine Lumière, the father of the brothers, and represents the industrial wealth of the late 19th-century Lyon bourgeoisie.
The museum collection includes the 'Cinématographe No. 1', the actual device used for the first public screenings in 1895.
The Musée Lumière is located in the original family villa of the Lumière brothers, the inventors of the Cinématographe. It serves as the heart of the Institut Lumière, dedicated to the history and preservation of early cinema. The museum collection tracks the progression of photographic and cinematographic technology from the late 19th century. Visitors can explore the Hangar du Premier Film, the site where the world's first motion picture was filmed in 1895. The site functions as both a historical repository and an active venue for contemporary film screenings. It displays original cameras, equipment, and personal archives of Louis and Auguste Lumière. The villa itself, an Art Nouveau structure known as the Château Lumière, is a notable architectural feature of the Monplaisir district. The museum provides an interactive look at the technical evolution of moving images. It remains a primary destination for cinema historians and film enthusiasts globally.
The front facade of the Hangar du Premier Film with its iconic painted sign.
Check the daily screening schedule in advance if you want to watch a film in the historical hangar.
Allow extra time to walk around the exterior garden to view the original factory wall.
Combine your visit with a walk through the surrounding Monplaisir neighborhood to see typical Lyonnais architecture.
Do not mistake the modern cinema building for the historical villa; the museum is housed specifically in the Château Lumière.
Closed on Mondays.
