# Observatoire du Mont-Chiran, France: what it is and when to go

> Observatoire du Mont-Chiran is an observatory in France (La Palud-sur-Verdon). Interests: Stargazing. The best time to visit is November to March. In June there are 15 h 16 of daylight, and in December, 8 h 44. 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-du-mont-chiran/
- 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:** NCE Nice, Alpes-Maritimes, 76 km as the crow flies
- **Website:** [astro-blieux.fr](http://astro-blieux.fr/V3/fr/observatoire/astronomie-verdon.php)
- **Coordinates:** 43.86817, 6.31678

## What it is and where

Observatoire du Mont-Chiran is an observatory in France (La Palud-sur-Verdon).

It is in [La Palud-sur-Verdon](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/la-palud-sur-verdon/), where this site lists 33 more places to see, 14 km from the centre.

Its coordinates are 43.86817, 6.31678; the nearest main airport is Nice-Côte d'Azur Airport (NCE, Nice, Alpes-Maritimes), 76 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=43.868174%2C6.316778)
- [Directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=43.868174%2C6.316778)

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 du Mont-Chiran: **November to March**.

| Mes | Época | Hours of daylight |
| --- | --- | --- |
| January | Possible | 9 h 04 |
| February | Possible | 10 h 15 |
| March | Possible | 11 h 38 |
| April | Better not | 13 h 13 |
| May | Better not | 14 h 33 |
| June | Better not | 15 h 16 |
| July | Better not | 14 h 58 |
| August | Better not | 13 h 49 |
| September | Better not | 12 h 17 |
| October | Better not | 10 h 45 |
| November | Possible | 9 h 24 |
| December | Possible | 8 h 44 |

In June there are 15 h 16 of daylight, and in December, 8 h 44. 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

- [Observatoire-Refuge du Mont Chiran](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/observatoire-refuge-du-mont-chiran/): Mountains · Hiking · 31 m
- [Mont Chiran](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/le-chiran/): Mountain in France · 34 m
- [Le Pavillon](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/le-pavillon/): Mountain in France · 3.7 km
- [Mourre de Chanier](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/mourre-de-chanier/): Mountain in France · 4.0 km
- [Chapelle Notre-Dame de la Baume](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/chapelle-notre-dame-de-la-baume/): Chapel located in Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, in France · 5.6 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 du Mont-Chiran?

It is an observatory in France.

### When is the best time to visit Observatoire du Mont-Chiran?

November to March. In June there are 15 h 16 of daylight, and in December, 8 h 44.

### How do you get to Observatoire du Mont-Chiran?

The nearest main airport is Nice-Côte d'Azur Airport (NCE), 76 km as the crow flies. From there, [directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=43.868174%2C6.316778) 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 [Observatoire-Refuge du Mont Chiran](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/observatoire-refuge-du-mont-chiran/), [Mont Chiran](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/le-chiran/), [Le Pavillon](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/le-pavillon/). The rest is in [the France guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/).

Data from [OpenStreetMap](https://www.openstreetmap.org/node/9804154785), 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).

