ABBADIA-LE CHÂTEAU-OBSERVATORY

Owned by the Conservatoire du Littoral, this 66-hectare natural site, with its varied landscapes, allows visitors to step back in time to 80 million years ago, when the sea still occupied what is now the Pyrenees mountain range. The site is characterized by steep cliffs, coves and 2 famous rocks, "les Jumeaux", which bear witness to the retreat of the coastline.

Classified as a Monument Historique in 1984, the château has been the property of the Académie des Sciences since 1901. In fact, A. d'Abbadie, a member of the Académie, bequeathed his château in return for a special clause: the Académie des Sciences had to undertake to continue the astronomical work he had begun. Until 1975, the observatories continued to survey the corniche's night skies, then the instruments were abandoned in a cellar until 2000, when the Académie asked for an inventory of the astronomical heritage. 80 objects emerged. Today, this exceptional instrumentation makes Abbadia the^1st and only decimal observatory in France. An eloquent visit: the vestibule with its monumental staircase and stained glass window, the chambre d'honneur, the reception rooms, the chapel with its exceptional roof structure. Everywhere a quotation calls out: A. d'Abbadie's motto "More to be than to appear", "Don't throw a stone into the well from which you drink the water". The Château lifts the veil on A. d'Abbadie's genius with the Pavillon Accueil.

Restoration of the park is completed; the interpretation of E. Bülher, landscape architect, who designed the park based on historical elements, in a logic of preservation and enhancement to encourage contemplation and understanding of the landscape scenes. The landscape composition and exotic plantings evoke A. d'Abbadie's many travels. English-style park integrating natural elements (mountains, ocean, trees). An invitation to discover interpretation points, the history of the site, the owner's scientific experiments, the species planted and the Arragorry house...

For the 30th anniversary of its opening to the public, the Château invites you to celebrate this exceptional event. A planetarium will be set up on site on October 22 and 26, 2025, with 2 1-hour discovery sessions (at 2.30pm and 4pm). Price €7.

From 01/04 to 30/06 : Exhibition of Antoine and Virginie Abbadie's crockery (Gien earthenware decorated with the interlaced letters of Abbadia).