L'Abbaye aux Étoiles

Astronomy at the heart of a thousand-year-old abbey

Born in 2022 from the initiative of the association Hélios Astronomie and the municipality of Caunes-Minervois, the festival L'Abbaye aux Étoiles offers a unique journey between science and heritage. The exceptional setting of the 8th-century Benedictine abbey, with its Romanesque cloister and red marble columns, hosts conferences and exhibitions, while night observations take place at the municipal stadium, far from light pollution, under the clear Minervois sky.

Conferences, masterclasses, and scientific discoveries

The festival program is structured around several formats:

• Evening conferences (9 PM) at the chevet of the abbey: talks by scientists and astronomers on various themes (cosmology, cosmic explosions, frontiers of the universe, space exploration)
• Masterclasses (10 AM-12 PM): in-depth workshops for enthusiasts
• Morning observations (8 AM-9:30 AM): sun observation with special filters
• Junior activities (4 PM-6 PM): fun and educational workshops for children

The speakers are renowned professional astronomers, researchers, and astrophotographers who share their passion and knowledge with an audience of all levels.

The Great Night of the Stars with music

The highlight of the festival is the Grande Nuit des Étoiles en musique (Great Night of the Stars with music), an evening of night sky observation at the municipal stadium of Caunes-Minervois. Telescopes are provided by members of Hélios Astronomie and partner astronomy clubs. The public can observe planets, nebulae, galaxies, and star clusters, guided by passionate amateur astronomers. Acoustic musical accompaniment creates a contemplative and poetic atmosphere.

Astrophotography exhibitions

The festival hosts a high-quality astrophotography exhibition in the abbey, featuring images of the Minervois sky and photographs from space missions. The first edition notably exhibited panoramic photographs of the Apollo 15, 16, and 17 missions assembled by astronomer and planetologist Serge Chevrel. The exhibition is accessible free of charge throughout the festival and extends for several weeks in the abbey.