Philanthropist Raphaël-Louis Bischoffsheim had a large observatory built on the crest of Mont Gros, far above Nice and in an area covering 35 hectares. It was the largest and most modern facility of its kind at the end of the 19th century. The architect Charles Garnier (the builder of the Opera in Paris, which bears his name) designed all the buildings of the complex, none other than Gustave Eiffel erected the large dome over the largest telescope.

This scientific site is only open for guided tours and online reservation is required, for all necessary information go to Observatoire de la Côte d’Azur (only french), go to Tout Public and Visite Individuelle. The guided tours take place regularly, but only from Wednesday to Saturday. The tour lasts full two hours, you cannot cancel it! You should always have warm clothes with you, the tour also takes place when it rains and most of the time you are outside. It is bitterly cold in the buildings.

The guided tours are in French, rarely in English. You can visit several observatories in the whole area. The information provided is extensive, rich and thoroughly scientific.

Access by public transport

Bus line 84 departs from Nice Riquier train station on Mont Gros and has the Observatoire stop right by the entrance portal, information can be found under Zou! (only french). Nice Riquier is a suburban station on the main line, where trains stop, see TER PACA (only french). You can get to the train station on the T1 tram line, getting off at the Palais des Expositions stop. However, you have to connect the two stops with a short walk along Boulevard Pierre Sola. Bus 84 has its other terminus in Beaulieu (stops at Baie des Fourmis and at the train station).

Arriving by public transport, it is advisable to take the afternoon visit.

Access by car

Although the A8 motorway passes directly behind Mont Gros, the observatory cannot be approached directly.

Coming from the west, you have to leave the motorway at the airport and actually cross the whole of Nice. You first drive a long way north at the tracks in the Voie Mathis. Then follow the signs to La Grande Corniche and Observatoire. You drive up Mont Gros from the west.

From Menton it is no less lengthy. You leave the A8 motorway in Roquebrune and drive along the entire Grande Corniche to La Condamine. At the Col de Quatre Chemins we continue to Nice and the Observatoire.

Parking site

The road to the observatory is well signposted with the Observatoire de Nice, but you soon come to a gate and the short stretch of road is the car park. During the shorter morning visit, you can park inside the observatory area.

When the gate is closed, the only alternative to parking is the Mont Vinaigrier park access road 100 meters further in the direction of Beaulieu (further up). You come to a multitude of driveways, right in the middle is an open gate through which you get to the park's parking lot. Attention, the gate closes at 6pm in winter and at 8pm in summer. However, there are not very many parking spaces here either!

Description

At that time, the facility was built far from the city to minimize the influence of light and thermal disturbances in the air, which are found above any city. Today, of course, the suburbs of Nice have long since reached the site, the motorway drives round the back. However, the telescopes are still in use, today it is easier to calculate out image interference.

After the gate you will be directed to the former stable building. Because you were far away from the city, the scientists at that time lived locally. But of course the connection to the city had to be maintained. This building is richly decorated and is the only stable designed by the architect Garnier.

It is therefore a historical, architectural and scientific highlight of the Riviera. In addition, you have a great view of the city of Nice and the Baie des Anges.