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Château-observatoire Abbadia is a window into France’s royal and medieval past. Locate it on the map, book a room nearby in a click, or add it to your travel list to build your itinerary.
About Château-observatoire Abbadia
Château-observatoire Abbadia is a 19th-century castle located in Hendaye, in the French Basque Country. It was built by the scientist Antoine d'Abbadie, who was interested in astronomy and geography. The castle was designed by the architect Eugène Viollet-le-Duc and built between 1864 and 1872. The castle is built in a neo-Gothic style and features a central tower with a dome that houses a telescope. The castle also has a large observatory with a rotating dome, which was used by Antoine d'Abbadie to study the stars. The castle is surrounded by a park and has stunning views over the Bay of Biscay. After Antoine d'Abbadie's death in 1897, the castle was left to the French Academy of Sciences, which still owns it today. The castle is open to visitors and offers guided tours of the interior, including the observatory and the library.
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