Montpellier Astronomical Observatory

Set within Montpellier's historic botanical garden, attached to the city's Faculty of Medicine, this French observatory has been part of a much longer local astronomical tradition.

About Montpellier Astronomical Observatory

The observatory's dome houses a Foucault telescope, installed in 1879 by astronomer Crova. The telescope itself was built two years earlier, in 1877, at the Paris Observatory under the direction of Charles Wolf, following plans left by Léon Foucault.

History

Montpellier Astronomical Observatory was founded in 1879, its construction made possible by a substantial bequest from astronomy professor Legrand. It continued a long tradition of astronomy in Montpellier, where earlier observatories date back to the 18th century.

Telescopes & research

The centrepiece of the observatory is its Foucault telescope, a rare surviving instrument built to the pioneering French physicist's own designs, installed under Crova's direction in 1879.

Location & getting there

The observatory sits inside Montpellier's botanical garden (Jardin des Plantes), attached to the Faculty of Medicine, in the heart of the city in southern France.

Visiting Montpellier Astronomical Observatory

We don't have confirmed current public opening hours for the observatory itself; check with the University of Montpellier or the botanical garden for the latest visiting information before travelling.

See your named star from here

An observatory built around a historic Foucault telescope is a striking place to think about the exact coordinates of a star named through Star Register — each one comes with its own right ascension and declination. Explore our naming packages or browse the catalogue.