# Observatoire d'Arçay, France: what it is and when to go > Observatoire d'Arçay is an observatory in France (Bourges). Interests: Stargazing. The best time to visit is November to March. In June there are 15 h 40 of daylight, and in December, 8 h 20. 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/observatoire-d-arcay/ - Reviewed on: 2026-10-02 - Language: en ## In a nutshell - **What it is:** Observatory · Stargazing - **Where:** France - **You can go:** November to March. - **Nearest airport:** ORY Paris (Orly, Val-de-Marne), 198 km as the crow flies - **Website:** [sapc.astrosurf.com](http://sapc.astrosurf.com/arcay-2/) - **Run by:** Société Astronomique Populaire du Centre - **Coordinates:** 46.94661, 2.33494 ## What it is and where Observatoire d'Arçay is an observatory in France (Bourges). It is in [Bourges](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/bourges/), where this site lists 37 more places to see, 16 km from the centre. Its coordinates are 46.94661, 2.33494; the nearest main airport is Paris-Orly Airport (ORY, Paris (Orly, Val-de-Marne)), 198 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=46.946607%2C2.334936) - [Directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=46.946607%2C2.334936) - **Run by:** Société Astronomique Populaire du Centre 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 Observatoire d'Arçay: **November to March**. | Mes | Época | Hours of daylight | | --- | --- | --- | | January | Possible | 8 h 43 | | February | Possible | 10 h 03 | | March | Possible | 11 h 36 | | April | Better not | 13 h 22 | | May | Better not | 14 h 51 | | June | Better not | 15 h 40 | | July | Better not | 15 h 20 | | August | Better not | 14 h 02 | | September | Better not | 12 h 19 | | October | Better not | 10 h 37 | | November | Possible | 9 h 06 | | December | Possible | 8 h 20 | In June there are 15 h 40 of daylight, and in December, 8 h 20. 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 - [Le Cher, de Vierzon à St-Amand-Montrond](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/le-cher-de-vierzon-a-st-amand-montrond/): Hiking · 4.9 km - [Thoux](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/reserve-biologique-dirigee-de-thoux/): Protected area in France · 7.7 km - [Basilica of Notre-Dame des Enfants](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/basilique-notre-dame-des-enfants/): Basilica located in Cher, in France · 9.8 km - [Château de Châteauneuf-sur-Cher](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/chateau-de-chateauneuf-sur-cher/): Castle · 9.8 km - [Réserve naturelle nationale des chaumes du Verniller](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/reserve-naturelle-des-chaumes-du-verniller/): Protected area in France · 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 Observatoire d'Arçay? It is an observatory in France. ### When is the best time to visit Observatoire d'Arçay? November to March. In June there are 15 h 40 of daylight, and in December, 8 h 20. ### How do you get to Observatoire d'Arçay? The nearest main airport is Paris-Orly Airport (ORY), 198 km as the crow flies. From there, [directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=46.946607%2C2.334936) 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 [Le Cher, de Vierzon à St-Amand-Montrond](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/le-cher-de-vierzon-a-st-amand-montrond/), [Thoux](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/reserve-biologique-dirigee-de-thoux/), [Basilica of Notre-Dame des Enfants](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/basilique-notre-dame-des-enfants/). The rest is in [the France guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/). Data from [OpenStreetMap](https://www.openstreetmap.org/node/9119971065), 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).