Nice Observatory, Astronomical observatory on Mount Gros, Nice, France
The observatory spans across 13 pavilions at 372 meters elevation, featuring a grand dome designed to house astronomical instruments and research facilities.
Banker Raphaël Bischoffsheim established the observatory in 1879, commissioning Charles Garnier for architecture and Gustave Eiffel for the main dome design.
The facility maintains an active research program while offering guided tours that showcase its scientific heritage and architectural accomplishments to visitors.
Visitors can access the observatory via bus 84 from Nice Riquier station, with tours available at 10 AM and 2 PM for groups up to 25 people.
The observatory houses the Grand Lunette, an 18-meter telescope that operated as the largest refracting telescope worldwide during the late 1880s.
Location: Nice
Location: La Trinité
Architects: Gustave Eiffel, Charles Garnier, Honoré Aubert
Official opening: 1887
Elevation above the sea: 372 m
Part of: Côte d'Azur Observatory
Website: http://oca.eu
GPS coordinates: 43.72744,7.29907
Latest update: June 23, 2025 09:41
Between Nice and Monaco, coastal trails provide the opportunity to explore the Mediterranean coastline through various routes. The Cap d'Ail Coastal Path, Nietzsche's Path in Èze with 400 meters of elevation gain, and the Mont Boron Park in Nice with its 11 kilometers of marked trails allow exploration of the region from different perspectives. These routes alternate between seaside sections and uphill segments, offering views over the coast and inland areas. The geological diversity of the region is evident in the limestone cliffs lining the Route des Crêtes between La Ciotat and Cassis, the rock formations of Cap d'Ail, and the red rocks of the Esterel Massif. Further inland, the Verdon Gorges feature a canyon 700 meters deep, while the Mercantour National Park houses the Sentier des Géants within its ancient forest. The historical heritage marks these routes: the Nice Observatory on Mont Gros dates from the 19th century, Fort La Revere overlooks the coast from 696 meters altitude, and Saint-Honorat Island preserves its active monastery. These trails serve as direct accesses to the nature and history of the French Riviera.
Nice offers a network of cultural venues and green spaces. The Marc Chagall Museum displays the largest public collection of his works. Parc du Mont Boron enables walks with coastal views. The Russian Orthodox Cathedral is the largest of its kind in Western Europe. Castle Hill, Promenade des Anglais and Port Lympia define the city landscape.
Nice naturally lends itself to photography. The Mediterranean light shapes the city from morning to evening, revealing in turn the ochre facades of Old Nice, the palms lining the Promenade des Anglais, or the blue domes of Saint-Nicolas Orthodox Cathedral. From the Château hilltop, at 92 meters high, the view encompasses the entire bay, while below, Place Masséna displays its geometric paving stones and red facades. The flower market at Cours Saleya, established since the 17th century, extends to Lympia Port where yellow facades reflect in the water, each neighborhood forming a different scene. The Negresco Hotel with its pink dome marks the coastline, and the Matisse Museum shares the painter's love for the light of the South. Nice offers a variety of viewpoints, making it a preferred destination for those interested in capturing the architecture, colors, and vitality of a city oriented toward the Mediterranean.
Musée Matisse
2.1 km
Palais Regina
2.2 km
Monastère de Cimiez
1.8 km
Côte d'Azur Observatory
503 m
Arènes de Cimiez
2.1 km
Abbey of St Pons
1.3 km
Thermes de Cimiez
2 km
Musée archéologique de Nice-Cimiez
2.1 km
Chapelle Sainte-Anne de Nice
2 km
Saint-Roch Church
1.8 km
Ancien groupe épiscopal de Cimiez
2.1 km
Parc du Vinaigrier
1.2 km
Villa Schmitz
657 m
Vieux mur ligure
1.9 km
Croix séraphique de Cimiez
1.8 km
Chapelle Saint-Aubert de Nice
862 m
Église Saint-Pierre de l'Ariane
1.3 km
Église Notre-Dame-de-l'Assomption de Cimiez
1.8 km
Église Notre-Dame-de-France du Col de Villefranche
2.5 km
Chapelle Bon-Voyage de Nice
1.2 km
Église Saint-André de Saint-André-de-la-Roche
1.8 km
Carré des fusillés de l'Ariane
2 km
Tronçons de la Turbie et du vallon de Laghet de la Via Julia Augusta
2.1 km
Scenic viewpoint
2.5 km
Scenic viewpoint
2.6 km
Le Bastionnet
2.6 km
Pont Michel
808 m
Pont René-Coty
1 kmReviews
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