With 15,000 prints, the MEP, founded by Jean-Luc Monteroso, the man who created the wildly successful Mois de la Photographie, every two years in October, is one of the largest public collections in Europe. All year round, this elegant and peaceful "hôtel particulier" between the Ile Saint Louis and the Marais, presents interesting exhibitions - at least three running at the same time - as well as films and lectures and even sometimes installations, like the "Jardin Niwa" by Japanese conceptual artist Keiichi Tahara.

Maison Européenne de la Photographie: 5-7, rue de Fourcy. 75004. 01 44 78 75 00. Mo Saint-Paul Open: Wed.- Sun. Free every Wed 5pm-8pm www.mep-fr.org

Musée Carnavalet       
                                                                                                                                    Atget

The museum of the history of Paris, in the Marais, houses one of the great photographic collections on the Continent. It has been collecting and buying entire collections dedicated to Paris in the largest sense of the word. It recently had a marvelous show on Atget and his American discoverer, Berenice Abbott. It also showed a "Paris in three D" during the 2000 "Mois de la Photography". On the way to the Picasso museum, it is always a good idea to check what's going on at the Carnavalet.

Musée Carnavalet: 23, rue de Sévigné. 75003. 01 44 59 58 58. Mo Saint-Paul. Tues-Sun

The Hôtel de Sully is located in a wonderful urban oasis. The exhibition space is not the best, but the shows are always first rate. Its "La Guerre Civile Espagnole", showing 150 prints from the Spanish civil war, was probably the best show in Paris in 2001. Last year, the Hôtel de Sully's exhibit on the Plains Indians was also remarkable. www.patrimoine-photo.org

Patrimoine Photographique-Hôtel de Sully: 62, rue Saint Antoine. 75004. 01 42 74 47 75. Mo Saint-Paul, Bastille.

This beautiful former private residence of Salomon de Rothschild, in a cultural no man's land, has become one of the most stimulating photo spaces in Paris. Its shows are always intriguing. Among the recent ones: English artist Sam Taylor-Wood, Araki, Agnes b.'s collection. The CNP has also opened, in November 2000, the Café du Centre, designed by Swiss architect Rudy Ricciotti with elegant furniture by Philippe Starck. Ricciotti has also invited artists to collaborate on this lovely space. Light food, tea salon. The terrace is great except on weekends when the garden of the foundation is overrun by visitors. Reservations: 01 42 56 22 48

Centre National de la Photographie: 11, rue Berryer. 75008. Mo George V, Charles de Gaulle-Etoile. 01 53 76 12 32. Daily except Tues. 12pm-7pm.

The most famous photographers collective, founded in 1947 by Cartier-Bresson, Cornell Capa and a few other stars of the medium, has open a space called Magnum Print Room. Magnum is making available to collectors all the prints from its members since the founding. "150,000 photos are available and can be looked at on computers," says India Dhagalkar, in charge of the Print Room. It is better to make an appointment to look at the photos which go from 5,000F to 12,000F for a modern print and 15,000F to 70,000F for a vintage print.

Magnum 19, rue Hegesippe-Moreau. 75018. 01 53 42 50 00. Mo La Fourche

One of the foremost photo galleries in the capital. Mainly 20th century photos. A very good space to show prints.

Baudoin-Lebon 38, rue Sainte Croix de la Bretonnerie. 75004. 01 42 72 09 10. Mo Hôtel de Ville. email: baudoin.lebon@wanadoo.fr

Taschen has become an essential player in the art world. The publishing house manages to print dozens of new titles each year on a huge variety of subjects. It has just opened its bookstore in the city. You can look at Helmut Newton's Sumo book as well as erotica or a book about Billy Wilder's Some Like it Hot, for the 95th birthday of the director. The bookstore is located in the heart of Saint-Germain des Prés and in the lovely rue de Buci. Go there in the morning when the market is in full motion.

Taschen: 2, rue de Buci. 75006. 01 40 51 70 93. Mo. Odéon or Saint-Germain des Prés.

Founded in 1986 by Christian Caujolle, one of the "godfathers of French photography", the gallery is showing a new installation every six weeks. It represents 160 photographers, many stars, but also many unknown artists whose work is original and out of the ordinary. Among its recent shows, one about women and farming. Not the usual theme for an art exhibition.

Vu: 2, rue Jules Cousin. 75004. Mo Bastille, Sully-Morland. 01 53 01 85 81. email: gilou@abvent.fr Wed-Sat 2pm-7pm and Sat 2pm-8pm.

Agathe was the first to open a gallery in Paris dedicated to photography. She represents heavyweights such as Marc Riboud or André Kertesz. It is a wonderful walk to come from the Ile Saint Louis, cross the Seine and find yourself in her gallery. She has been threatened with evicvtion by a landlord who would like to increase his rent. Agathe has vowed to resist. As of this writing, she's still in her wonderful space.

Agathe Gaillard: 3, rue du Pont Louis-Philippe. 75004. Mo Hotel de Ville. 01 42 77 38 24

A stone throw from the place Saint Sulpice and the Luxembourg, La Chambre Claire has been the prominent photography bookstore in the city for a long time. It also has a small exhibition space downstairs. This is where all the photography lovers end up sooner or later.

La Chambre Claire 14, rue Saint-Sulpice. 75006. 01 46 34 04 31. Mo Odéon. Tues-Sat 1pm-7pm

35 year old Kamel Mennour emerged on the Paris art scene in 1997, with the opening of his gallery. After a degree in management, this Algerian born dealer began his career by selling photos to employees of companies. He did this for 5 years, which helped him understand the taste of the public. In 1997, he finally opened his gallery on the rue Mazarine. Among the most recent shows: Araki, Peter Beard, Molinier, Larry Clark, and the wonderful "Objectif Picasso".

Galerie Kamel Mennour 60, rue Mazarine. 75006. 01 56 24 03 63. Mo Odéon. www.galeriemennour.com

Françoise Paviot and her husband run one of the best galleries in the city. They show the collections put together by companies, as well as shows around themes like "Nous n'irons plus au bois". There is always something interesting and if you are good, you might be invited downstairs where many masterpieces are stored.

Galerie Françoise Paviot: 57, rue Sainte Anne. 75002. 01 42 60 10 01. Mo Opera. Tues-Sat. 2:30pm-7pm

Arnaud Delas and his wife run the best little photo gallery dedicated to 19th century photographers in town. Their prints are really affordable and every one of their exhibition is a treasure: a show on Portugal as well as one on Amedée de Ternante's Portugal. Keep an eye on their exhibition's program. If you don't like what they're showing, knock next door: the gallery represents the work of the marvelous New Yorker illustrator Sempé.

Hypnos: 52, rue de l'Université. 75007. 01 45 44 99 71. www.hypnos-photo.com

Robert Doisneau's house has been turned into a museum dedicated to photography (of course). It is a little bit out of the way but worth the trek. The shows (like this spring's show on Palestine) are good and the place is simply filled with the late great photographer's presence.

Maison Robert Doisneau: 1, rue de la Division du GŽnŽral Leclerc. 94250 Gentilly. 01 47 40 88 33. To get there: RER ligne B, station Gentilly. By car: Périphérique, exit Porte d'Italie or Porte de Gentilly. Wed. and Fri. 12pm-7pm. Sat and Sun 2pm-7pm.

This newcomer on the photo scene has found its place right away. The beautiful loft is also a photo gallery dedicated to modern photography and a restaurant. You can just come to look at prints or have an apéritif or simply read magazines. A wonderful new space.

Renoma Café Gallery 32, ave George V. 75008. Mo George V. 01 56 89 05 89

A great photo/gallery in the Montparnasse district. Great selection of photography books and often interesting shows. One of the best newcomers on the Paris scene.

"213", blvd Raspail. 75014. Mo Raspail or Vavin. 01 43 22 82 23 www.galerie213.com

The gallery is a little bit lonely in this quiet street in the working class/bohemian neighborhood, but every one of its shows is a hit. It is really worth checking it out and then to wander around the neighborhood where filmmaker Agnes Varda, Sartre and Beauvoir and many others have lived. Right around the corner, try "A Mi-Chemin" (rue Boulard), a delicious restaurant with great Loire wines. Right next to the metro station, Moisan makes the best bread in Paris (and it is organic).

Galerie Camera Obscura 12, rue Ernest Cresson. 75014. Mo Denfert-Rochereau. 01 45 45 67 08.

Bibliothèque Nationale de France, site François Mitterrand. The new addition to the former Bibliotheque Nationale, willed by former president Mitterrand, often has excellent exhibitions, like this year's Thierry des Ouches' show, "France, Photographies". In the fall, "Voyage en Orient, photographies: 1840-1880", will be one of the shows to see.

Bibliothèque Nationale de France, site François Mitterrand. 11, quai François Mauriac. 75013. Mo Quai de la Gare. 01 53 79 59 59

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