The photographic agency of the Centre des monuments nationaux is responsible for the distribution to the public of the photographic archives of the Direction de l’Architecture et du Patrimoine (Architecture and Heritage Department) that have been collected over the past 150 years.

The agency is constantly updating its photographic records of historic monuments. This recent iconography, composed of black and white images and 300,000 Ektachromes in all formats, is particularly comprehensive for the monuments managed by the Centre des monuments nationaux and is open to the public.

The collections of photographs marketed by the Centre des monuments nationaux constitute an exceptional visual documentary both in its volume, around 3 million images, and in the quality of the shots, which are often previously unseen views of many monuments. Those who appreciate old photographs will find the best artists represented, including both unknown and famous photographers such as those of the Mission héliographique of 1851, Nadar, Puyo, Manuel, the Seeberger brothers and Atget.

This extensive and eclectic collection will be of interest to editors, researchers, art historians architects etc, who are looking for abundant iconography of essentially French architecture, both the exceptional and the everyday. Enthusiasts of old photography will find work by some of the best photographers, some unknown, some famous, such as the photographers of the 1851 Heliography Mission, Nadar, Puyo, Manuel, the Seeberger and Atget brothers etc.

A purely documentary style of photography stands alongside the more picturesque views of a changing environment. Although architecture is the most well represented of the fine arts, painting, drawing, sculpture and furniture are also featured, from their origins to the present day.