As close as possible to the sky and the stars, the Pic du Midi de Bigorre

At the Pic du Midi de Bigorre, at an altitude of 2,877 meters, lies the oldest high-mountain observatory in the world.
Accessible by a spectacular cable car, this extraordinary site offers panoramic views across the entire Pyrenees mountain range.
Today, it combines advanced research with public access, featuring exhibitions, a planetarium, and immersive experiences. A must-see!

The extraordinary Pic du Midi de Bigorre

The Pic du Midi de Bigorre, between Sers and Bagnère de Bigorre, benefits from a privileged geographical location for observing the Pyrenees mountain range.

Located high above the French Alps, its 2,877-meter panoramic views of all the peaks, from the Basque coast to Biarritz and as far as Ariège, a distance of nearly 300 km ... Quite a feat!



But above all, the Pic du Midi de Bigorre is home to the oldest high-mountain observatory in the world.

one of the world's leading observatories today , thanks to its exceptional location and the outstanding purity of its air.

From the beginning of the 18th century, cutting-edge scientific work was carried out there, and the first elements of the observatory were installed in 1878.

This observatory notably produced, from 1962 onwards, the best terrestrial images of the sun, with its revolutionary Jean Rösch telescope , which then served as a model for all solar observatories in the world .

The Pic du Midi de Bigorre is extraordinary, not least because of its breathtaking cable car, which truly seems to float in the sky. Departing from La Mongie (1785m), the ascent takes approximately 15 minutes, in two sections with a stop at Taoulet (2341m).

With only three intermediate pylons, you reach a height of up to 320m above the ground – exactly the same height as the Eiffel Tower!

A day at the Pic du Midi, to get up close to the stars

Once you reach the summit, take the time to identify the peaks using the panoramic tables , then familiarize yourself with the Pyrenees environment using the interpretation tables ; guides are on site to explain the panorama.

Then marvel at the science area , a space adorned with huge visuals of skies flooded with stars.

You will find fun interactive experiences on the favorite themes of the Pic du Midi, a gallery on the history of the observatory and on the International Dark Sky Reserve , and an exhibition of scientific instruments used at the Pic du Midi.

Each of the 5 major scientific themes of the Pic is addressed by an interactive platform, in the form of a drawing that unfolds progressively: the atmosphere ("journey to the center of the clouds"), light ("a brief history of light"), the sun ("target sun"), the moon and small bodies of the solar system ("from the moon to the earth"), cosmic rays ("the mysterious particles").

Visit the planetarium , under the Baillaud dome, the oldest astronomical installation at the observatory, installed in 1908. In this immersive space, experience educational film screenings on the Milky Way, constellations, the genesis of the universe, and the history of the Pic.

And finally, the highlight of the show: head to the Sky Bridge! This 12-meter-long metal walkway is stretched out over the void, like the prow of a ship. An immersive and dizzying experience… in the sky and among the stars. Be warned, thrills guaranteed!

To recover from your emotions, you will be able to have a panoramic lunch in the restaurant 'le 2877'…

The epic story of the Pic du Midi

Although the first scientific work was carried out as early as 1706 – by François de Plantade who studied the solar corona – the idea of ​​an observatory emerged in 1774, in the mind of Professor Jean d'Arcet , chemist and professor at the Collège de France.

Subsequently, the Pic became a popular research site , and its ascent via the Col du Tourmalet is relatively easy, although it requires a full day's effort. An inn was even established near the summit.

Despite this plebiscite, it would take until 1860 for the observatory project to be revived, and nearly another twenty years before the first stone was laid, in 1878, under the direction of retired General Charles du Bois Champion de Nansouty and engineer Célestin-Xavier Vaussenat.

In fact, De Nansouty and Vaussenat had already established a temporary station in 1873, where they lived in precarious conditions.

This station would nevertheless prove invaluable, notably allowing them to anticipate the major flooding of the Garonne and Adour basins in 1875 and to raise the alarm. The construction of the observatory proved extremely difficult , as its components could only be transported on the backs of men and mules, up steep slopes, from July to mid-October.

The observatory became operational in 1880, initially comprising a 6-meter astronomical dome and a meridian room on a platform measuring 8 to 10 meters square, near the houses.

It was gradually modernized, and in 1907, it reached a new milestone with the installation of its first telescope by astronomer Benjamin Baillaud , one of the largest in the world at the time with a diameter of 50 cm. In 1909, this telescope refuted the existence of canals on Mars, placing the Pic du Midi Observatory at the forefront of research.

In 1922, wireless telegraphy was installed, in 1949 the electrical network (electricity has been supplied by generators since 1911) and finally the cable car in 1952 after 10 years of work.

The Pic du Midi will enable scientific advances in a wide variety of fields : meteorology for aviation, cosmic radiation, atmospheric electricity, and even mountain radioactivity. In addition to the alpine garden, the Pic du Midi also houses a high-altitude laboratory dedicated to botany and plant biology, as well as soil studies.

In the early 1960s, after another decade of work and development, the Pic du Midi Observatory had almost its current appearance... A dozen observation domes were installed, the last of which, the highest, was inaugurated in 1983. It houses the largest telescope in France , allowing the observatory to remain competitive despite the rise of giant telescopes.

From the 2000s onwards, the observatory, whose operation is very expensive, had to find new sources of income to continue to exist. New work was undertaken to allow public access, and new scientific fields were opened up: environmental physics, earth sciences and physiology.

Don't miss visiting this exceptional site when you stay at Chalet La Source .
Thrills and wonder guaranteed!