Observatoire des Cote de Meuse

At Viéville-sous-les-Côtes in the Meuse department of north-eastern France, the Observatoire des Côtes de Meuse gives visitors access to an 83-centimetre telescope - one of the largest anywhere in Europe open to the public.

About Observatoire des Côtes de Meuse

The observatory is built around public access, pairing its large telescope with an outdoor "Amphithéâtre aux Étoiles" (Theatre of the Stars) for naked-eye sessions and constellation talks. Programmes are designed for a wide range of visitors, from families to school groups.

Telescopes & research

The headline instrument is an 83 cm diameter telescope, a scale rarely offered to the general public in Europe. It is used during evening observation sessions to bring planets, star clusters, and deep-sky objects within reach of visitors who would otherwise never look through anything close to this size.

Location & getting there

The observatory is located at 8 Place de Verdun in Viéville-sous-les-Côtes, in the Meuse department of the Grand Est region, France.

Visiting Observatoire des Côtes de Meuse

Visits run by appointment and include observation evenings and children's programmes; tickets are €18 for adults and €12 for children aged 6 to 16. To book, contact the observatory on +33 3 29 89 58 64 or by email at [email protected].

See your named star from here

With an 83 cm telescope on hand, this is exactly the kind of site where a star named through Star Register can be tracked down in person - staff can point the telescope at any set of coordinates on a clear night. Check the catalogue for your star's position before booking a visit.