El Maestrat Observatory

El Maestrat Observatory, known locally as Astromaestrat, sits in the hills above San Cristóbal in Castellón, in Spain's Valencian Community, where astrotourism visitors gather under some of the region's darkest skies.

About El Maestrat Observatory

Astromaestrat is a public astrotourism observatory built to bring visitors close to the night sky of the Maestrat region, at an elevation the operators describe as over 1,000 metres. Rather than a research facility, it runs as a visitor experience, pairing telescope sessions with commentary from professional astronomy guides.

Location & getting there

The observatory lies in the Maestrat district of Castellón province, part of Spain's Valencian Community, at coordinates roughly 40.22°N, 0.17°W. Its highland setting, well above 1,000 metres, keeps it away from the light pollution of the coastal towns nearby.

Visiting El Maestrat Observatory

Astromaestrat runs organised astrotourism sessions with professional guides who set up telescopes for public viewing. Because sessions depend on weather, moon phase and season, check the current schedule and booking details on the Comunitat Valenciana tourism pages, or with the operator directly, before travelling.

See your named star from here

If you've named a star through Star Register, your certificate gives its exact right ascension and declination. Guides at observatories like this one can point a telescope at those coordinates on request, turning your named star into something you can actually see. Browse the catalogue to find a star of your own first.