ATLAS · OBSERVATORIES · FRANCE

Observatories in France

France has 167 observatories on the map. 156 watch the night sky. 11 watch something else — the Sun, the radio sky, particles, Earth’s field, or a volcano. The earliest was founded 1363. Below: how they split by what they watch, and the country’s notable sites. From Wikidata, snapshot 2026-06-23.

OBSERVATORIES167

OLDEST FOUNDED1363

NOT WATCHING STARS11

By what they watch

Astronomical156 · 93%

Solar1 · 1%

Geo & magnetic6 · 4%

Volcano4 · 2%

Notable observatories in France

A representative mix — the specialised sciences first, then the earliest sites by founding year.

VolcanoObservatoire de physique du globe de Clermont-Ferrand1876

VolcanoObservatoire du Morne des Cadets1903

VolcanoVolcanological and Seismological Observatory of Guadeloupe1950

SolarSolar Observatory Tower Meudon1963

VolcanoPiton de la Fournaise Volcano Observatory1979

Geo/magneticPort-Bizet

Geo/magneticPamatai Magnetic Observatory

Geo/magneticKourou Magnetic Observatory

Geo/magneticChambon la Foret Magnetic Observatory

Geo/magneticobservatoire de physique de l'atmosphère de La Réunion

Geo/magneticmarégraphe du pont de Kérino

AstronomicalTour de la Babotte1363

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