{"id":42939,"date":"2026-06-24T17:51:36","date_gmt":"2026-06-24T15:51:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.praloup.com\/astronomy\/barcelonnette-mercantour-observatory\/"},"modified":"2026-06-24T18:01:53","modified_gmt":"2026-06-24T16:01:53","slug":"barcelonnette-mercantour-observatory","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.praloup.com\/en\/astronomy\/barcelonnette-mercantour-observatory\/","title":{"rendered":"Barcelonnette Mercantour Observatory"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Barcelonnette Mercantour Observatory<\/h1><\/div><\/div><\/div>
Home<\/a><\/span> Astronomy<\/a><\/span> Barcelonnette Mercantour Observatory<\/span><\/span><\/div><\/div>\n\n
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The Barcelonnette Mercantour Observatory: head in the stars from the Ubaye Valley<\/strong><\/h2><\/div>\n\n\n\n

A few kilometres from Pra Loup, the Barcelonnette Mercantour Observatory<\/strong> invites you to look up at one of the most beautiful night skies in the Southern Alps. Located in the heart of the Ubaye Valley<\/strong>, a territory known for the purity of its sky and low light pollution, this site has become a reference for astronomical observation in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Born from a partnership between the municipality of Barcelonnette<\/strong> and the Mercantour National Park<\/strong>, the observatory is much more than a place of observation: it is a space dedicated to discovery, scientific education and the preservation of the night. Whether you are passionate about astronomy, curious about passing through or on holiday in Pra Loup with your family, it is a unique experience to live during your stay in the Ubaye. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The site is home to a remarkable historical instrument: the famous P\u00e8re Josset telescope<\/strong>, a true witness to the local scientific heritage. Alongside it, modern equipment now makes it possible to broadcast the observations live in a specially equipped educational building. Thanks to its immersive planetarium<\/strong>, young and old alike can discover the constellations, planets, the Milky Way and the mysteries of the Universe in ideal conditions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

From Pra Loup, the Barcelonnette Mercantour Observatory is a great idea for an evening outing or a day of discovery in the valley. An invitation to slow down, contemplate and rediscover the magic of the starry sky of the Alps. <\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Planetarium <\/p><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Father Josset’s telescope<\/p><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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P\u00e8re Josset’s large telescope: a unique astronomical instrument in the world<\/strong><\/h2><\/div>\n\n\n\n

The centrepiece of the Barcelonnette Mercantour Observatory<\/strong>, the P\u00e8re Josset telescope<\/strong> is an instrument as rare as it is fascinating. Its monumental look, almost out of a Jules Verne novel, makes it an unmissable curiosity in itself. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Created in 1929<\/strong> for an English billionaire, this astronomical telescope has travelled through the ages before arriving in the Ubaye Valley. Passed down from enthusiast to enthusiast since 1936<\/strong>, it bears witness to a true human history around astronomy, the sharing of knowledge and the contemplation of the sky. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Carefully restored, it is now showcased in the observatory, in a cabinet of curiosities<\/strong> that gives it all its grandeur. More than just a scientific instrument, it has become a unique heritage object, at the crossroads of science, history and wonder. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thanks to this century-old telescope, visitors can observe, depending on the conditions and seasons:<\/p>\n\n\n\n