Take-off imminent!
Welcome to La Chapelle-aux-Lys (Terval), a discreet village in the Vendée bocage in the Land of Stars, which hides an unexpected treasure: the smallest village in the world to have its own planetarium. Here, the stars are more than just a night-time backdrop. They are an invitation to look up, slow down and explore.
Before take-off, the atmosphere is already there. It only takes a few minutes to realise that you are entering a place apart, where people talk about galaxies, constellations and infinity. In the planetarium room, you take a seat under the dome. The lights go down, silence falls… The countdown begins.
3… 2… 1… Lift-off. Your space mission can begin!
A journey through the galaxy
Under the vaulted ceiling of the planetarium, the sky comes alive and the adventure begins. Guided by an immersive projection and explanations from Olivier Sauzereau (or another member of the Astrolys association), you set off on a veritable exploration of the cosmos.
The starry night appears, revealing its constellations and its stories. Little by little, the journey expands: the planets of the solar system are revealed, the Moon comes closer, Saturn’s rings stretch out into space and the Milky Way unfolds its billions of stars.
The planetarium lets you change scale in a matter of seconds. You go from the sky visible to the naked eye to the farthest reaches of the observable universe. This celestial expedition combines wonder and understanding: you learn to recognise the stars, locate the planets and better understand the immensity that surrounds us.
When the lights come back on, one thing is certain: your view of the sky will never be quite the same.
Back on Earth… but still with your head in the stars
The adventure doesn’t end with the screening. As you leave the auditorium, take the time to discover the small interpretation area set up in the Planetarium.
Headphones are available to listen to content that will extend your discovery and give you a better understanding of certain astronomical phenomena. A little further on, a Camera Obscura invites you to observe the church using a device that is as simple as it is fascinating.
Extending the mission throughout the village
At La Chapelle-aux-Lys, astronomy is not confined to the planetarium. The whole village seems to be turned towards the stars.
Start by pushing open the door of Major Tom’s café des astres, a friendly place where astronomy enthusiasts like to meet up. On the walls of the café, an “astronomical” fresco immediately catches the eye and reminds us that exploring the universe is part of the identity of the place.
If you want to go further, take the ‘ Chemin aux Étoiles‘, an open-air educational trail that allows you to understand the universe as you walk. Along the way, astronomical distances take shape and the immensity of the cosmos becomes more tangible.
Enthusiasts can also take part in the courses and observations offered atOlivier Sauzereau‘s observatory, another gateway to learning how to read the sky.
And every summer, the village becomes the setting for a unique event: the Astrolys festival, a not-to-be-missed rendezvous for the curious and star-lovers.
