Pic du Midi de Bigorre

One does not climb to the summit of Pic du Midi de Bigorre like just any other mountain. Instead it is a pilgrimage. Pic du Midi Observatory was born out of the meeting between an exceptional mountain and people animated by a passion for Knowledge: the precursors in the 18th century, the creators at the end of the 19th century, and a long line of scholars, astronomers, physicists, botanists who, over 130 years, contributed to its renown. This is why, when it was decided to close Pic du Midi Observatory in 1998, scientists and nearby localities joined their efforts in order to save it.