# Balcon des étoiles, France: what it is and when to go > Balcon des étoiles is an observatory in France (Latrape). Interests: Stargazing. The best time to visit is November to March. In June there are 15 h 11 of daylight, and in December, 8 h 49. Here is what it is, where it lies, when to come, how to get there and what else is nearby to turn it into a trip. - Address: https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/balcon-des-etoiles/ - Reviewed on: 2026-10-02 - Language: en ## In a nutshell - **What it is:** Observatory · Stargazing - **Where:** France · Balcon des étoiles, 31310, Latrape - **You can go:** November to March. - **Nearest airport:** BOD Bordeaux, 238 km as the crow flies - **Website:** [les-pleiades.asso.fr](https://www.les-pleiades.asso.fr/) - **Coordinates:** 43.244, 1.28978 ## What it is and where Balcon des étoiles is an observatory in France (Latrape). It is in [Latrape](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/latrape/), where this site lists 7 more places to see, 2 m from the centre. Its coordinates are 43.244, 1.28978; the nearest main airport is Bordeaux–Mérignac Airport (BOD, Bordeaux), 238 km as the crow flies. How to get around France (train, car, bus) is covered in [its country guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/#moverse). - [Where it is](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=43.244004%2C1.289778) - [Directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=43.244004%2C1.289778) It is one of the [Stargazing](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/estrellas/) places in France. In [Kokai](https://kokai.app/en/) it is already on your trip map next to the places you save yourself, and it goes into a day's plan with one tap. ## When to go Months when you can visit Balcon des étoiles: **November to March**. | Mes | Época | Hours of daylight | | --- | --- | --- | | January | Possible | 9 h 08 | | February | Possible | 10 h 17 | | March | Possible | 11 h 39 | | April | Better not | 13 h 12 | | May | Better not | 14 h 29 | | June | Better not | 15 h 11 | | July | Better not | 14 h 54 | | August | Better not | 13 h 47 | | September | Better not | 12 h 17 | | October | Better not | 10 h 47 | | November | Possible | 9 h 28 | | December | Possible | 8 h 49 | In June there are 15 h 11 of daylight, and in December, 8 h 49. Daylight hours are calculated from the site's latitude for the 15th of each month; when planning a full day on foot they matter as much as the weather. When to go to France in general, with its festivals and peak seasons, is in [its country guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/#cuando-ir). ## Before you go to France To enter France there are 6 things to sort out before you leave, starting with “Valid ID card (DNI) or passport”: they are all, with their deadlines, in [the France checklist](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/#antes-de-salir). Currency: Euro (EUR); plugs: Type C and E · 230 V · 50 Hz; emergencies: 112 · 15 ambulance (SAMU) · 17 police · 18 fire brigade. In [Kokai](https://kokai.app/en/) you tick off the checklist inside your trip, and each item reminds you when it is time to do it. ## What is nearby - [Pont de Lajous](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/pont-de-lajous/): Bridge in France · 7.1 km - [Rieux Cathedral](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/cathedrale-de-la-nativite-de-marie/): Cathedral located in Haute-Garonne, in France · 7.2 km - [Maison Laguens](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/maison-laguens/): House in Rieux-Volvestre, France · 7.3 km - [Church of Saint-Ybars](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/eglise-saint-ybars/): Church located in Ariège, in France · 7.8 km - [La Source Wake Park](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/la-source-wake-park/): With kids · 11 km Distances are as the crow flies. Everything else is in [the France guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/). ## More in France: Stargazing - [Paris Observatory](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/observatorio-de-paris/): foremost astronomical observatory of France - [University of Bordeaux](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/observatoire-de-bordeaux/): university in France - [Observatory of Strasbourg](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/observatoire-astronomique-de-strasbourg/): astronomical observatory in France - [List of astronomical observatories](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/d51-plateau-astronomique-de-la-couronne-palc/): Wikimedia list article - [Pises Observatory](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/observatoire-des-pises/): astronomical observatory in France - [Lyon Observatory](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/observatoire-de-lyon/): school in France Every France place under Stargazing, each with its season, is on [its page](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/estrellas/). ## Frequently asked questions ### What is Balcon des étoiles? It is an observatory in France. ### When is the best time to visit Balcon des étoiles? November to March. In June there are 15 h 11 of daylight, and in December, 8 h 49. ### How do you get to Balcon des étoiles? The nearest main airport is Bordeaux–Mérignac Airport (BOD), 238 km as the crow flies. From there, [directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=43.244004%2C1.289778) opens the route on the map, and how to get around France is explained in [its country guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/#moverse). ### How do I add it to my trip? With one tap. In Kokai it is already on the France map, next to the places you save yourself: add it to a day's plan, give it a time and, if you like, get a reminder when you pass nearby. ### What else is around here? Nearby you have [Pont de Lajous](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/pont-de-lajous/), [Rieux Cathedral](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/cathedrale-de-la-nativite-de-marie/), [Maison Laguens](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/maison-laguens/). The rest is in [the France guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/). Data from [OpenStreetMap](https://www.openstreetmap.org/way/973297578), licensed under the ODbL, and from [Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/), CC0. Daylight hours are calculated from the latitude. More in [credits](https://kokai.app/en/aviso/#creditos).