Observatory of Saint-Véran

Astronomical observatory on the 3,000m Pic de Château Renard

The Observatoire de Saint-Véran sits at 2,930 metres on the Pic de Château Renard, making it one of the highest astronomical observatories in Europe accessible to the public. Originally a CNRS solar observation site, it now hosts visiting astronomers and offers guided tours and night sessions for visitors.

Reaching it on foot from Saint-Véran takes about three hours up; many visitors stay overnight in the refuge attached to the observatory. The night-sky experience here, far from any light source, is the main draw.

things to do sight
A story
The observatory was built in 1974 to study the solar corona, taking advantage of one of the clearest, driest skies in mainland France. It's now run by an amateur association that opens it to the public for night-time star sessions in summer — at nearly 3,000 metres, with no light pollution, the Milky Way is dazzling.