Monte Generoso Observatory
Image: Wikimedia Commons
Monte Generoso Observatory once looked out from near Generoso Vetta, atop Monte Generoso in the canton of Ticino, Switzerland, before it was relocated in the early 2020s.
About Monte Generoso observatory
The observatory was operated by the Monte Generoso Insubrica Astronomy Group, with support from the Migros Culture Percentage fund. It opened with Italian astrophysicist Margherita Hack serving as its patron.
History
Monte Generoso Observatory first opened in 1996. On 3 May 2021, the observatory was dismantled and its equipment prepared for relocation. It reopened on 20 March 2022 at Park im Grünen in Bern, renamed the Observatory on the Gurten.
Location & getting there
The original site sat near Generoso Vetta, at the top of Monte Generoso in Ticino, southern Switzerland — a mountain known for sweeping views over the Alps and Lake Lugano. The observatory itself is no longer there, having moved to Bern in 2022.
Visiting Monte Generoso observatory
Since the observatory relocated to Park im Grünen in Bern as the Observatory on the Gurten, visitors hoping to use its telescopes should look there rather than at the original Monte Generoso site, which no longer hosts the facility.
See your named star from here
Wherever this observatory's telescopes end up, the coordinates of a star named through Star Register stay fixed. Explore our star-naming packages or browse the catalogue to find a star you can look for on your next mountain visit.
Opening hours and public-visit programs vary by season. Check Google Maps for current times before you travel.
