Observatoire météorologique du Mont Aigoual

The Mont Aigoual meteorological observatory is a weather and research station located at 1567 meters (5141 feet) in the Gard department. The facility houses scientific exhibitions, meteorological instruments, and an orientation table with views of the surrounding Cevennes mountains.

The station was built between 1887 and 1894 as one of the most challenging construction projects of that era, with only 70 usable days per year due to extreme mountain conditions. This difficult beginning shaped the observatory's role as a center for understanding extreme weather.

The name reflects the mountain's identity as a place where science meets nature at a high altitude. Visitors experience how weather measurement connects directly to understanding the climate around them.

Access is easiest during the warmer months when the road is reliably open and mountain views are clearest. Visitors should bring warm clothing since temperatures at this elevation are significantly cooler than in the valley below.

In November 1968, wind speeds of 360 kilometers per hour (224 miles per hour) were recorded here, demonstrating how extreme conditions can become on this peak. Such measurements make the station a key location for understanding severe weather phenomena.