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A museum regarded as an institution, housing a collection of old cameras, autochromes, photos, films...
Nestled at the end of a quiet pedestrian alleyway, in an attractive 18th-century house that belonged to the French botanist and administrator Pierre Poivre, the museum is the "passionately furious" work of the late Tristan Bréville (a fierce defender of heritage and the notion of memory in the collective sense of the term) and his wife Marie-Noëlle. Over some fifty years of personal research and investigation, the couple managed to collect over 50,000 old photos of Mauritius (scenes of life), some of which are on display here. At the same time, Tristan and Marie-Noëlle waged an assiduous battle to transform this unique collection into the National Photographic Archives of Mauritius. The battle was won, as the photos have been archived and digitized since 2023, and will be exhibited at ZIMAZ, a new independent cultural center due to open in Caudan in 2026.
Today, the museum still houses important items from the Bréville collection, including numerous cameras from the 19th and early 20th centuries. These include a number of rare items, such as a lens made by Charles Chevalier for Jacques Daguerre in 1839, or the very first camera invented by Louis Daguerre, which, who knows why, was bought by a Mauritian in Paris at the time. The house also exhibits autochromes and the most important collection of old postcards and films about Mauritius. A pretty boutique offers a selection of posters, old photos, books...
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Members' reviews on PHOTOGRAPHIC MUSEUM
The ratings and reviews below reflect the subjective opinions of members and not the opinion of The Little Witty.
a really insightful place to learn about the history of photography in Mauritius and also France as these are linked.
They do work within a small space so there is a lot put into the area.
The staff are friendly and polite and happy to give further insight and try out some demos on some of the machines.
It is a paid entry as it’s a private museum, although would recommend for lovers of history and photography.
Les expositions sont exceptionnelles, mettant en lumière la riche histoire et la diversité culturelle de Maurice à travers une collection impressionnante de photographies d'époque. De plus, il convient de rendre hommage au talent exceptionnel du créateur et photographe Tristan Breville, dont le travail remarquable est le pilier de ce musée.
Le musée vous transporte littéralement dans le passé, vous permettant de découvrir la manière dont la vie à Maurice a évolué au fil des décennies. Les images capturées depuis le 19e siècle jusqu'aux aux années 80 racontent une histoire vivante et émouvante de l'île, de ses habitants et de son environnement.
En visitant ce musée, vous apprécierez non seulement le travail des photographes qui ont contribué à documenter l'histoire de Maurice, mais vous comprendrez également l'importance de préserver ce précieux héritage. C'est une expérience enrichissante pour les amateurs de photographie, les passionnés d'histoire et les curieux de tous horizons.
J'en profite pour dire un grand MERCI à Mme. BREVILLE et sa fille qui nous ont chaleureusement accueilli pour une visite mémorable ❤ On se reverra certainement!!