Observatoire Centre Ardenne, Astronomical observatory in Grapfontaine, Neufchâteau, Belgium
The Observatoire Centre Ardenne is a public astronomical observatory in the village of Grapfontaine, near Neufchâteau in Wallonia, Belgium. It has six domes housing telescopes and a planetarium room with a spherical ceiling.
The Observatoire Centre Ardenne was founded in 2013 by a group of people passionate about nature and astronomy. Since then, it has grown into the only public astronomical observatory in Wallonia.
The Observatoire Centre Ardenne sits in a rural area where artificial light is kept to a minimum, which makes a real difference when looking at the night sky. Events like the Nuit des Étoiles Filantes in August bring people together each year for shared sky-watching sessions.
The site is easy to reach by car or bus, with parking available for both vehicles and coaches. It is a good idea to book in advance, as many activities are organized by appointment.
At the planetarium, visitors can spend the night in the heated dome room, falling asleep under a projected sky. The site also offers guided nature walks where visitors can spot birds and reptiles or listen to the roar of stags during the rutting season.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
