The Astronomical Pavilion at the Jardin des Plantes: A Scientific Landmark Restored by the University of Marseille
On Thursday, April 9, 2026, the University of Montpellier inaugurated the restored astronomical pavilion at the Montpellier Botanical Garden. The inauguration was attended by Philippe Augé, president of the University of Montpellier; Isabelle Laffont, dean of the Montpellier-Nîmes Faculty of Medicine; and John De Vos, director of the Montpellier Botanical Garden. Entirely funded by the University of Montpellier, this €122,000 restoration project highlights an iconic element of Montpellier’s university heritage.
A testament to Montpellier’s scientific history
At the end of the 18th century, Montpellier was looking for a new site for astronomical observation following the closure of the observatory at the Tour de la Babote in 1793.
In 1877, a bequest from astronomy professor Jean-Nicolas Legrand made it possible to acquire a Foucault telescope, considered at the time to be a state-of-the-art instrument. To house it, a pavilion was built at the Jardin des Plantes at the request of Professor André Crova, chair of physics at the Faculty of Sciences. The site, approved as early as 1862 by astronomer Urbain Le Verrier, was chosen for its relative distance from urban disturbances, making it ideal for astronomical observation. The pavilion was situated in the English garden near the lotus pond. It was inaugurated on July 28, 1879, on the occasion of the observation of the occultation of the star Antares by the Moon.
Amid controversy and gradual abandonment
However, the construction of the pavilion was not universally supported. Charles Martins, then director of the Garden and a professor at the Faculty of Medicine, opposed it, believing that the dampness of the site could damage the equipment. A controversy arose with faculty members from the Faculty of Sciences, requiring arbitration by the Minister of Public Instruction, who ultimately approved the project. By the early 20th century, the dome’s condition had deteriorated. Use of the pavilion gradually declined until the telescope was removed in 1964 and transferred to the University of Science and Technology of Languedoc.
A restored site, bridging memory and interpretation
Temporarily converted into a planetarium in 1988, the Astronomy Pavilion is now entering a new chapter in its history with this restoration. From now on, this site embodies a heritage, educational, and symbolic dimension. It evokes the connection between observing living things and understanding the universe, continuing Montpellier’s scientific tradition. This restoration thus breathes new life into an iconic part of the university’s heritage, while enriching the experience of visitors to the Montpellier Botanical Garden.
