François-Xavier Bagnoud Observatory

Perched at 2,200 metres above the Alpine village of Saint-Luc in Valais, Switzerland, the François-Xavier Bagnoud Observatory is one of the rare mountain observatories built specifically to welcome the public rather than professional researchers alone.

About François-Xavier Bagnoud Observatory

The observatory is run as a non-profit by the Association François-Xavier Bagnoud and named after the Swiss rescue pilot. Unlike most high-altitude observatories, it is open to schools, amateur astronomers and visitors for both daytime and nighttime demonstrations.

History

It opened in 1995 to promote astronomy education and public engagement in the Val d'Anniviers.

Telescopes & research

The facility operates 60cm and 15cm telescopes alongside a heliostat, a weather station and a planetarium, connected to the funicular below by a planet trail. In 2007 the observatory contributed to the detection of Gliese 436 b, a Neptune-sized exoplanet made largely of hot ice.

Location & getting there

The observatory sits near the top of the Saint-Luc funicular in Valais, Switzerland, at 2,200 metres elevation, offering the clear, dark skies typical of a high Alpine site.

Visiting François-Xavier Bagnoud Observatory

The observatory is open to the public for guided daytime and nighttime sessions, including school groups and amateur astronomers. Check the official website for current opening times and tour bookings before you travel.

See your named star from here

With a 60cm telescope and a track record that includes exoplanet detection, this is a serious instrument capable of resolving the exact coordinates of a star you've named through Star Register. Look up your star's position in our catalogue before your visit and ask staff to help you find it.