Mont d'Arbois astronomical observatory

On the Mont d'Arbois ridge above Saint-Gervais-les-Bains, at 1,800 metres in the French Alps, this small observatory turns its telescope on the night sky with the Mont Blanc massif as a backdrop.

About Mont d'Arbois Astronomical Observatory

The observatory is run by the Mont d'Arbois Astronomy Association and was initiated by Gérard Morand and Pierre Pasteris, with funding support that included a contribution from Baroness Edmond de Rothschild. Its main telescope sits in an automated dome dedicated to astrophotography, and a planetarium occupies an adjoining living space used as a projection room.

Telescopes & research

Visitors here are guided by expert commentary while observing galaxies, nebulae, and star clusters through the automated main telescope - a set-up designed as much for public discovery as for imaging the sky.

Location & getting there

The observatory sits at 1,800 metres altitude on the Mont d'Arbois ridge in Saint-Gervais-les-Bains, in the Haute-Savoie region of France, and is reachable via marked trails from Bettex - with the Mont Blanc chain filling the view.

Visiting Mont d'Arbois Astronomical Observatory

Guided observation evenings are organised by the Mont d'Arbois Astronomy Association; check the observatory's official website for current dates and booking details before making the trip up the ridge.

See your named star from here

At 1,800 metres, well above the valley haze, this is a genuinely good spot to try to find a star you've named. Explore our star-naming packages or browse the catalogue to see stars already named through Star Register.