Historic instruments of the Observatory

The Astronomical and meteorological observatory of Lyon was founded in 1878 in the district of Saint-Genis-Laval. It is located in the heart of a 4-hectare park with 500 trees and bushes, and has 21 buildings and over 40 instruments that have been classified or recorded as historic monuments.

When the observatory was built, it played an important role in the life of the city: as well as its astronomic activity, it was in charge of making weather forecasts, and determining the exact time for synchronising clocks in the city of Lyon.

This place, brimming with history, is home to a unique instrument: the angled equatorial telescope. Of the six remaining in the world, that of Lyon is the only one that still works, and that is in its original condition.