Exploring Montpellier's Botanical Garden Observatory

Montpellier’s Hidden Astronomical Gems

This past weekend, while visiting the Jardin des Plantes in Montpellier with some friends, I was genuinely surprised to stumble upon a small astronomical observatory with a white dome, nestled right between the greenhouses and ponds!

After a quick dive into some research once I got home, it turns out this observatory was built in 1879, thanks to the contributions of two science professors (Jean-Nicolas Legrand and André Crova) and following suggestions from none other than astronomer Urbain Le Verrier, the discoverer of Neptune! Apparently, this observatory housed a Foucault telescope and was exclusively used for spectroscopic studies. This telescope was even classified as a historical monument in 2006. It’s currently undergoing restoration (sources: Mr. Henri Reboul, Université Montpellier II).

Fast forward to 1989, the observatory was repurposed into a planetarium, a role it still holds today. Regular sessions are organized there, utilizing a mobile planetarium under a 5-meter diameter inflatable dome.

Not far from there, at the bottom of the Boulevard de l’Observatoire, stands the Tour de la Babote. This old rampart tower was transformed into an astronomical observation tower way back in 1745. This observatory played a key role in establishing the precise coordinates of Montpellier.

The Babote observatory once housed a Gregory telescope, built by the English craftsman Nairne. If you’re curious, this very telescope is now on display in the Pénitents chapel in the town of Aniane.

And since the early 80s, the Tour de la Babote has been the proud home of the Montpellier Astronomical Society. Pretty cool to see so much history packed into one city!