Timeline

Key figures

Origin and history

The Reims Planetarium, created in 1979 and opened to the public on 1 March 1980, was the first provincial planetarium in France, after that of Paris. Originally installed in the Old Jesuit College (17th century), it had a room of 6 meters in diameter equipped with a Zeiss ZKP2 projector. His average annual attendance was 26,000, and in 2003 he welcomed his 500,000th visitor. The historic site, although modern in its equipment, became too small for the educational and technological ambitions of the planetarium.

In 2013, after 18 months of work and an investment of 3.4 million euros, the planetarium was transferred to a new elliptical building designed by architect Jean-Paul Bonnemison. Located at 49, rue du Général-de-Gaulle, this futuristic place evokes a space rocket with its piling structure and its skin in glass scales. The dome, now 8 metres in diameter, welcomes 50 visitors and is equipped with a Zeiss ZKP4 projector and high definition multimedia systems. A database even simulates the sky at specific historical dates, as during the French Revolution.

Among the treasures exhibited is the astronomical clock by Jean Legros (1903–78), a pharmacist and mechanical enthusiast. This unique clock, designed over more than twenty years, shows the positions of the stars, the eclipses, and even the date of Easter. Given to the city by its heirs, it illustrates the link between local heritage and scientific dissemination. The planetarium actively participates in events such as Nights of the Stars and offers educational courses in partnership with National Education.

Accessible to all, including people with disabilities, the planetarium is a focal point for inclusion. Since 2015, audio descriptions have enabled visually impaired people to view the 7,000 stars projected. Its central location, served by the tramway and the SNCF station, makes it a major cultural place in Reims, combining technological innovation and scientific mediation for all audiences.

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