The Observatory at the Pic du Midi de Bigorre – site visited in September 2025.

The place is regarded as the oldest high mountains observatory in the world. History goes back to the end of XIX century (1882) when weather station was build there. Later on thanks to height and excellent atmospheric clarity they start to add sky observation devices to construct scientific base. Nowadays observatory contains several telescopes, different buildings including relatively new TDF antenna (interdepartmental building with its 103 m-high aerial, which rises to over 3000 m above sea level). The whole area is also known as International Starry Sky Reserve.

Initially I planed to climb the site on foot but since the weather was not satisfactory (fog and rain in the valley) and due to formal restrictions (in 2025 hiking access to the Pic du Midi and its facilities was prohibited between the Col de Sencours and the Pic du Midi due to altitude works during the summer) I decided to use expensive cable car. Both ways ticket costs currently 53 Euro (adult) or 48 Euro (reduced) per person, tickets may be bought on the spot (or on line, cheaper if booked in advance). It is around 15 minutes to go on the top of the mountain (2877 meters above sea level) – you have to change the car (half way, Taoulet intermediate station). Few minutes after moving up several meters from La Mongie the fog disappeared and I can enjoy excellent panorama of High Pyrénées mountains.

When you arrive on the top (Pic du Midi) you have access to main terrace, right after cafeteria, big open space on the top with amazing panoramas of surrounding areas. Terrace is surrounded by scientific and historic buildings: the Vaussenat building, the Nanssouty building, the Marchand laboratory, and the Dauzère building together with 7 astronomical observatories, 5 of which house scientific instruments that are still in use: the Bernard Lyot Telescope dome and observatory, the 1 m Telescope dome and observatory, the Jean Röcsh dome and observatory, the Coronograph dome and observatory, the 60 cm Telescope dome and observatory, the Charvin dome and, finally, the Baillaud dome.

Relatively new is a viewing platform - “le Ponton dans le ciel”- only for persons without acrophobia. It is a 10 meters long, narrow glass walkway, suspended over the abyss.

On the top there is also a small museum (exhibition) showing history of the place and typical equipment (Gallery of Wonders, just next to cable car station).

Practical info: stayed overnight in Residence La Mongie Tourmalet – huge residential complex located in La Mongie (many possibilities of private accommodation, different standard, underground parking), its glory days are behind it but you can still find some descent (and moderate in prices) accommodation.

I have travelled with own car but it looks like there is an infrequent public bus from Tarbes via Bagnères-de-Bigorre. If anyone wants to go on foot probably the best place to start is Col du Tourmalet (google coordinates 42°54'30.1"N 0°08'42.2"E, small parking, restaurant).

Access to Pic du Midi via cable car (Téléphérique du Pic du Midi de Bigorre), lower station, google coordinates 42°54'34.3"N 0°10'45.1"E, big (free) parking space.

Official website with history of the place and practical info: https://picdumidi.com/en/

More info about the place (looks like Nomination Dossier) https://web.astronomicalheritage.net/show-entity?identity=76&idsubentity=2