Rencontres Photographiques du Trièves
Open-air photography festival in the villages of Trièves, between Vercors and Dévoluy
About Rencontres Photo Trièves
Created in 2018 by the association Artistes Associés du Trièves, the Rencontres Photographiques du Trièves is an open-air summer photography festival that takes over about ten villages in Trièves each summer, 50 km south of Grenoble. For two months, about thirty photographic exhibitions—portraits, landscapes, reports, nature—are set up in the streets, squares, and heritage sites of Clelles, Mens, Gresse-en-Vercors, Monestier-de-Clermont, and other towns. Screenings, events, and meetings with photographers complete this free tour open to all.
Travel to this festival
Book your train or bus to reach Rencontres Photo Trièves at the best price.
Sponsored link
Rencontres Photographiques du Trièves: Photography in Freedom
The Rencontres Photographiques du Trièves is an open-air summer photography festival that transforms the villages of Trièves into a vast open-air gallery each summer. Created in 2018 by the association Artistes Associés du Trièves, under the honorary presidency of photographer Emmanuel Breteau, this event was born from the desire to celebrate the photographic richness of this mountain territory located about 50 kilometers south of Grenoble, between the Vercors and Dévoluy massifs.
A Photographic Trail Through the Villages
From the end of June to the end of August, about thirty photographic exhibitions are set up in the streets, squares, municipal halls, and heritage sites of about ten Trièves communes: Clelles, Mens, Gresse-en-Vercors, Monestier-de-Clermont, Saint-Martin-de-la-Cluze, Saint-Maurice-en-Trièves, Treffort, and other villages. The photographers are selected by a jury for the quality and originality of their work. Portraits, landscapes, reports, wildlife photography, documentary series, or artistic creations: genres and approaches intersect to offer the public a rich and diverse panorama of contemporary photography.
Meetings, Screenings, and Events
Beyond the exhibitions, the Rencontres Photographiques du Trièves offers a program of varied events throughout the summer. Open-air screenings allow you to discover photographic works in privileged conditions. Meetings with photographers offer the public the opportunity to interact directly with the artists and understand their artistic approaches. Guided tours of the exhibitions are organized regularly, led by the photographers themselves or by cultural mediators. The festival also offers workshops and participatory events that invite young and old to discover photography.
A Territory of Inspiration
The Trièves, with its grandiose landscapes dominated by Mont Aiguille, its meadows, forests, and charming villages, provides an exceptional natural setting for a photography festival. The installation of exhibitions in public spaces—house facades, village squares, hiking trails—creates a unique dialogue between the images and the landscape, inviting visitors to an artistic and contemplative stroll through a preserved territory. Discovering the exhibitions is combined with discovering the local heritage, hiking trails, and gastronomy of the Trièves.
A Free Festival Run by Volunteers
Supported by a team of passionate volunteers, the Rencontres Photographiques du Trièves is entirely free and open access. The association Artistes Associés du Trièves, governed by the 1901 law and recognized as being of general interest, works throughout the year to select photographers, prepare exhibitions, and coordinate the entire event. Since the first edition in 2018, which brought together 17 photographers in about fifteen locations, the festival has continued to grow to become a major cultural event of the Isère summer, attracting an ever-increasing audience with each edition.
Rencontres Photo Trièves — edition 2026
The 9th edition of the Rencontres Photographiques du Trièves will take place from late June to late August 2026 in the villages of Trièves. This edition coincides with the bicentennial of photography and will feature about thirty open-air exhibitions, screenings, meetings with photographers, and free events for all audiences.
9th Edition of Rencontres Photographiques du Trièves - 2026
The Rencontres Photographiques du Trièves returns for its 9th edition from late June to late August 2026. This new edition will once again take over the villages of Trièves—Clelles, Mens, Gresse-en-Vercors, Monestier-de-Clermont, Saint-Martin-de-la-Cluze, Saint-Maurice-en-Trièves, Treffort, and other communes—for two months of open-air photography.
An Edition Marked by the Bicentennial of Photography
The year 2026 marks the bicentennial of photography, a historic event that gives a special dimension to this 9th edition. The festival aims to celebrate this anniversary by offering a program that pays tribute to the history of the photographic medium while highlighting the most audacious and innovative contemporary practices.
An Enriched Exhibition Trail
As every year, about thirty exhibitions will be offered to the public in the streets, squares, and heritage sites of the Trièves villages. The photographers, selected from applications by a jury, will present works covering all genres of photography: portrait, landscape, reportage, wildlife photography, documentary series, and artistic creation. The outdoor display of prints, in dialogue with the landscape and local architecture, remains the festival's signature.
Meetings, Screenings, and Events
The program of events will include open-air screenings, meetings with photographers, guided tours, and workshops open to all audiences. These highlights of exchange and cultural mediation will invite visitors to deepen their perspective and share their passion for photography in an exceptional natural setting between Vercors and Dévoluy.
A Free and Accessible Festival
True to its values, the festival will remain entirely free and open access. The full program and the list of selected photographers will be announced in the spring of 2026 on the official website rencontres-photo-trieves.fr and on the festival's social media.
Highlights Rencontres Photo Trièves 2026
- 9th edition of the Rencontres Photographiques du Trièves
- Edition marking the bicentennial of photography (1826-2026)
- About thirty open-air photographic exhibitions in the villages of Trièves
- Screenings, meetings with photographers, and events throughout the summer
- Completely free and open-access festival
- Full program to be announced in spring 2026
Prices Rencontres Photo Trièves 2026
Practical information — Rencontres Photo Trièves
Festival Access
Location
The Rencontres Photographiques du Trièves takes place in several villages of the Trièves, a region located about 50 km south of Grenoble, in Isère. The main towns hosting exhibitions are Clelles, Mens, Gresse-en-Vercors, Monestier-de-Clermont, Saint-Martin-de-la-Cluze, Saint-Maurice-en-Trièves, and Treffort. The main reference point is Place de la Mairie, 38930 Clelles.
By Car
From Grenoble: take the RN75 towards Gap via the Col du Fau. Clelles is about 45 minutes from Grenoble. Mens is accessible via the D526 from Monestier-de-Clermont (about 1 hour from Grenoble). From Gap: follow the N85 then the D1075 towards Grenoble, allow about 1 hour 15 minutes. Free parking is available in each village near the exhibitions.
By Public Transport
The Clelles-Mens SNCF train station is on the Grenoble-Gap railway line and is the most convenient access point by train. Région Isère buses (TransIsère network) also connect Grenoble to Monestier-de-Clermont and Mens. Information on the website transisere.fr.
By Bike
The Trièves is a popular area for cycling enthusiasts. It is possible to reach the various exhibition villages by bike using the departmental roads. The Véloroute du Trièves cycling route serves several festival towns.
Prices
All exhibitions and events are free and open to the public. No tickets are required. Visitors are free to wander at their own pace between the different villages and exhibition venues.
Opening Hours
Outdoor exhibitions are accessible permanently, day and night. Indoor exhibitions (municipal halls, heritage sites) are generally accessible during the opening hours posted on site. Events, screenings, and meetings take place according to a detailed schedule published on the festival's website and available as a brochure in the Trièves tourist offices.
Practical Advice
Wear comfortable shoes to walk between the different exhibition venues. The complete circuit covers several villages; it is advisable to have a vehicle or a bike to travel from one village to another. A guide brochure with a map of the exhibitions is available free of charge at the Trièves tourist offices and at the exhibition venues.
Contact
Association Artistes Associés du Trièves
Phone: 07 85 32 08 23
Website: rencontres-photo-trieves.fr
Facebook: facebook.com/rencontres.photo.trieves
Instagram: @rencontres_photo_trieves
Accommodation and Catering
The Trièves offers a wide choice of accommodation: rural gîtes, bed and breakfasts, campsites, and hotels. The Trièves Tourist Office (tel: 04 76 34 85 40, website: trieves-vercors.fr) offers a booking service and can direct you to available accommodation. The villages of Mens and Monestier-de-Clermont have shops, restaurants, and local markets.
Festival-goer photos
No photo yet. Share yours!
Share your photos
5 photos max, 5 MB per photo (JPG, PNG, WebP)
Festival-goer reviews
No rating yet — be the first!
No review yet. Be the first!
Were you there?
Share your experience with the community
Travel to this festival
Book your train or bus to reach Rencontres Photo Trièves at the best price.
Sponsored link
Where does it take place — Rencontres Photo Trièves
Villages du Trièves - Divers lieux
Place de la Mairie, 38930 Clelles