Nuit des Étoiles in Paris: the best places to admire the sky from the capital

Join us on 11 August at the Cité des Sciences et de l'Industrie for an evening of discovering the sky from 9pm to midnight. On the programme: constellation spotting, a mapping workshop and, of course, time to observe shooting stars. Don't worry if you're a beginner: a guide will be on hand to help you if you wish, or leave you to your own devices.

Parc Montsouris is also coming alive on 11 August with a free observation evening from 9pm to 12.30am! Astronomical glasses and telescopes will be available to the public. You'll be able to contemplate the Moon, Saturn and Jupiter in the best possible conditions.

Head for Le Bourget, north of Paris, for an unforgettable night on 12 August from 6pm. A host of free events will be on offer, including a piano-voice recital at 10pm, a "map of the sky" workshop and exhibitions.

The heart of the event? An evening of observation from the airport tarmac from 10.30pm. Here, too, you'll have all the equipment you need at your fingertips: telescopes and astronomical instruments will be set up so you can observe the stars as well as Saturn and Jupiter. And if you're new to astronomy, there will be guides on hand to help you discover the celestial vault, its stars and constellations, using the naked eye.

Les Nuits des Étoiles is an event not to be missed, particularly from the Butte Montmartre. Reaching a height of 130 metres, it's the ideal place to observe the sky. The parvis du Sacré-Coeur and the Square Marcel Bleustein, behind the basilica, are also recommended locations.

To get a clear view of the planets through our telescopes, we're heading to the Parc des Buttes-Chaumont. The steepest green space and the largest garden in the capital, it's undoubtedly one of the best places to spend a magical night under the stars!

When it comes to astronomy, nothing beats an observatory! We can't recommend going to the Observatoire de la Tour Montparnasse to contemplate the celestial vault. Go up to the 210-metre-high panoramic roof for a view of the whole of Paris!

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