Gnomon of Saint-Sulpice, Astronomical instrument in Saint-Sulpice Church, France
The Gnomon of Saint-Sulpice features a brass meridian line with an obelisk and a round opening in a stained-glass window for solar measurements.
English clockmaker Henry Sully constructed this astronomical device in 1714 under the supervision of parish priest Jean-Baptiste Languet de Gergy for timekeeping purposes.
The device represents the fusion of religious practices and scientific advancement during the Age of Enlightenment through its role in determining Easter dates.
Visitors can observe the gnomon daily from 7:30 AM to 7:30 PM by accessing Saint-Sulpice Church through the Saint-Sulpice metro station on line 4.
The brass meridian line indicates true solar noon when sunlight entering through the southern window creates a light disc crossing the marked pathway.
Location: 6th arrondissement of Paris
Inception: 1714
Address: 2 rue Palatine, 75006 Paris, France
GPS coordinates: 48.85100,2.33492
Latest update: June 23, 2025 09:40
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