Tour de la Babotte, Medieval tower and astronomical observatory in Montpellier, France
The Tour de la Babotte rises as a stone tower with an observatory platform, standing at the edge of Montpellier's historical district.
The States of Languedoc transformed this 12th-century fortification tower into an astronomical observatory in 1745, marking a shift from military to scientific purposes.
The tower served as a center for astronomical research under the management of the Académie des Sciences and later the Société Royale des Sciences.
Visitors can access the tower at 17 Boulevard de l'Observatoire and contact +33 4 67 66 12 14 for guided tour arrangements throughout the year.
The installation of Chappe's telegraph system in 1832 enabled direct message transmission to Paris until its replacement by wire technology in 1855.
Location: Montpellier
Inception: 1363
Height: 26 m
GPS coordinates: 43.60642,3.87736
Latest update: May 25, 2025 08:32
Place de la Comédie forms Montpellier's central square with the Trois Grâces fountain. The 18th-century Promenade du Peyrou includes a triumphal arch. The Fabre Museum contains artworks spanning seven centuries. The Jardin des Plantes maintains botanical collections dating from 1593. Saint-Pierre Cathedral features twin Gothic towers. The Antigone district displays neoclassical architecture. Saint-Roch district preserves medieval stone buildings and narrow streets.
Montpellier-Saint-Roch railway station
357 m
Fontaine des Trois Grâces
286 m
Opéra national de Montpellier
202 m
Church Saint-Roch of Montpellier
281 m
Temple of Maguelone Street
256 m
Church Saint-Denis of Montpellier
243 m
Square Planchon
225 m
Saint-Côme hotel
179 m
Montcalm hotel
134 m
Ancien logis de la Croix-d'Or
306 m
Rey hotel
197 m
Statue Le chant rustique
258 m
Monument of Emile Planchon
217 m
Chapel of Penitents Blues
96 m
Église orthodoxe la Théophanie de Montpellier
292 m
Fontaine de l’Enfant à la rame
266 m
Grand Rue Jean Moulin
164 m
Hotel of Hostalier
298 m
Street of the Old Courier
308 m
Saint-Felix hotel
258 m
Lamouroux hotel
227 m
Lecourt hotel
290 m
Street of Maguelone
206 m
Boussugues hotel
165 m
Hall Laissac
67 m
Perier hotel
241 m
Fourques hotel
179 m
Street of Plan d'Agde
216 mReviews
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