For cinephiles, this is where it all began.

The Cinematograph was born on Rue du Premier-Film, in the heart of the Monplaisir district in Lyon, where today only the factory shed and the Villa Lumière remain, distinguished by its imposing silhouette. The Musée Lumière pays tribute to Louis and Auguste and showcases their most beautiful inventions in the elegant furniture of the family home, including intricate ceilings, a monumental staircase, and a glass roof in the winter garden.

The Invention of Cinema

Thanks to the Cinematograph, the Lumière brothers were able to record movement and, most importantly, project animated images onto a screen: cinema was born. The centerpiece of the museum, Cinematograph No. 1, is the device used for the first public screening on December 28, 1895.

Image Credits:

Cover Image: Hangar: © Institut Lumière / Photo JL Mège

Space Images: 1) Villa: © Institut Lumière / Photo JL Mège; 2) Villa night: © Institut Lumière / Photo A. Guillemaud; 3) Cinematograph: © Marie Perrin - Lyon Tourisme et Congrès - 4) Hangar: © Institut Lumière / Photo JL Mège; 5) Factory exit: © Institut Lumière; 6) The Sprinkler Sprinkled: © Institut Lumière - 7) Family meal / Autochrome: © Institut Lumière