The Pic du Midi and its observatory nominated for inclusion on the World Heritage List

News

4 February 2026

Press release


Ms Rachida Dati, Minister for Culture, announces the submission of two new nominations for inclusion on UNESCO’s World Heritage List: the ‘Pic du Midi and its observatory’[…]

The nomination of the Pic du Midi and its observatory is proposed as an exceptional illustration of the pioneering period when the very first high-altitude scientific observatories were established. A true technical and human achievement, the Pic du Midi observatory is an outstanding example of the occupation and development of a mountain peak for both scientific and tourist purposes. This coexistence has continued for over a century, creating an exceptional cultural landscape where the quest for knowledge about the cosmos has shaped a unique place that is open to all.[…]

They were developed in close collaboration with, for the Pic du Midi, the Occitanie Region, the Hautes-Pyrénées Department, the University of Toulouse and the observatory’s scientific team […].

They will be examined by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee at its 49th session in July 2027.

Links:

website: www.picdumidi-candidatunesco.org

video:

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