Calar Alto Observatory

Amazing views on the way up and down, it was a little hazy when we got there. Such a cool place to visit.

Very interesting. You can book a visit via Azimut

Beautiful place, air crisp and clean, views amazing, always very clean

The observatories are at 2200 metres so it was extremely cold when we drove there. Luckily no snow or ice as it was mid February. A lovely drive with fantastic views. The observatories were not open so we plan to return but it looks very busy and booked up for sometime.

Sunny but chilly, great views.

What a location. From the incredible wildlife on the drive up to the raw landscape on arrival. Breathtaking beauty. Vivid milky way and night sky. Plus a couple of friendly foxes

Excellent place to drive up wild camp Hymer B754 tag axle. Wild bore, deer and the stars are unreal.

Fantastic views on the way to the summit and from the summit itself. I was in December and it was icy on top, which made the experience even more exciting, passing from 20 degrees in Almería capital to nearly zero in just an hour and a half. I recommend to visit the place when the sunset is, since the sky colours and the outline of the surrounding mountains give you the opportunity of enjoying one of the best views in the province of Almería. This is one of the best places in Europe to gaze at the stars and the Spanish and German governments have some space observatories, so if you want to feel tiny, stay for a bit longer, look up and be amazed with the stars at night.

Calar Alto is a famous mountain pass and it's been the finish line in La Vuelta a España several times. The whole climbing from Aulago (27 km) is indicated with signs showing the distance to the summit and the maximum and minimum gradient per kilometre. If you like cycling and you are in Almería you must come here and try 😁. To come down you can just continue the road in a circular route that finishes in Gérgal. The whole route deserve every penny of petrol you will expend.

Bring in coat, anytime of the year, it’s cold. Amazing views and plenty of parking, bring a picnic

Nice drive to this mountain top to see the telescopes, would love to come back at night

Top scientific facility in great location. AVOID going at night since car lights may ruin astronomical observations.

Wow! We loved our pre-booked morning tour with Sol, an Astro Physicist working with Azimuth. She was friendly, enthusiastic, professional, helpful, constantly checking that the group didn't have any additional questions. Her Spanish too was easy to understand (for a non-native Spanish speaker, like myself). The 30 minute introductory talk was brilliant. Then the talk outside the domes were very interesting. The opportunity to go inside the largest - 3.5 metre mirror - dome was a unique and wonderful experience. It was absolutely fascinating. I would highly recommend this to everyone.

Also, I had booked a night event through Azimuth for the night before. It was cancelled due to the weather forecast showing that there may be cloud cover. Both the man on the phone and Sol were extremely apologetic that it had to be cancelled. Of course, the weather is entirely out of their control but I really appreciated how they were so apologetic and how they made me feel - like someone that mattered. I will definitely rebook that. Ten out of ten for customer service.

I love Calar Alto Observatory ❣

Very nice place. Visited the Telescope and got a private tour 5 years ago. Usually you have to book and ask for a tour. Instant access isn´t offered here. It is quite cold even in summer. The telescope is used for observing within a big network as I was told by a scientist.

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He was born and raised under it.

Calar Alto marked life forever because it defined death.

The gaze that began its journey behind these telescopes ended up uniting the fields of the Kingdom after leaving the kingdom of the fields forever.

From cradle's exile and Earth's banishment the Light from within was born.

Everything died already outside.

And from that nothing everything was born, once and again, inside space and time.
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Such beautiful views

Amazing 360 view in a rugged and desolate landscape.

The Veiws are awsum e been in the sun and the snow the snow gets deep and can be a bit mad trying to get up to the observation area but can park on Rd and walk up it a fair way up but worth the trip

Great view. Peaceful. No one else there but us. Bring your own picnic, no shops, no toilets, nothing but a view

Great place to visit. We took the motorbikes up on some awesome winding roads too!!

See for yourself. However there is also a great picnic area on one route up. And a lovely drive from Seron