Photos: where to go star-gazing in south-west France

A natural park in south-west France is one of two sites this year to be recognised for providing uninterrupted views of the night sky. 

Stargazers visiting the Landes de Gascogne park can see up to 4,000 stars with the naked eye on a clear night according to the International Dark Sky Association.

The park, which covers around 1.4 million hectares of land in the south-west of France, is primarily covered by pine trees and is a popular camping location, and is also the location of France’s famous Atlantic sand dunes.

The views are possible due to lack of light pollution from nearby villages, with over 80 communes in the area reducing their light usage over the last five years to help the park attain the label.

The successful campaign meant the park was granted the title of ‘Réserve internationale de ciel étoilé’ or ‘Dark Sky preserve’.

The park is one of seven sites to be labelled as such in France. 

The other sites are:

• Cévennes national park (Ardèche, Gard and Lozère)

• Bigorre mountain peak (Hautes-Pyrénées)

• Morvan natural park, (Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region, also granted the title in 2025)

• Mercantour national park (Alpes-Maritimes and Alpes-de-Haute-Provence) 

• Millevaches natural park (Corrèze, Creuse and Haute-Vienne)

• Vercors natural park (Drôme and Isère)

Several areas in the UK, US, Ireland, and Canada have also been awarded the title. 

“The only source of light [in the park] is the sky and the Moon,” said mayor Yann Bouffin of the Callen commune, which sits in the heart of the park. 

The new label has seen a boost to tourism in the park, and attracted amateur stargazers to spend time in the area. 

Efforts to reduce light pollution have also increased nocturnal biodiversity. 

The photos below posted on the natural park’s social media pages show some of the impressive views.