Where to see the eclipse on 12 August on the Côte d'Azur

12 August a partial solar eclipse will occur over the Côte d’Azur: at around 20:24–20:30 the Moon will cover up to 95% of the Sun’s disc, and at sunset, at about 20:40, the star will set already partially eclipsed. The best viewing point is where the western horizon is open: by the sea or high in the mountains above Grasse.

Coast: beaches and capes

As Europe Says, citing the Observatory of the Côte d’Azur, the ideal spot is the Garoupe beach and lighthouse on Cap d’Antibes: an open western horizon will allow you to follow the eclipse almost until the Sun sets. The west side of Cap d’Antibes and the beaches of Juan-les-Pins will also do. In Nice — the section of the Promenade des Anglais between Carras and Ferber, in Cannes — the heights of Croix des Gardes.

Mountains: Audibergue and Gréolières stations

In the interior of the department, near Gréolières, the cable cars of the Audibergue and Gréolières-les-Neiges ski resorts will remain open until 21:00 especially for the eclipse: from the summits above the Préalpes d’Azur the sky is clear, without urban light pollution and clouds on the horizon. Places are limited — you need to book in advance by calling the station.

Time and safety

According to the Éclipse Solaire 2026 website, in Nice the Moon’s first contact with the Sun is at about 19:30–19:38, the maximum (around 95% coverage) is at 20:24–20:30, and sunset will occur already partly eclipsed, at about 20:40–20:47. Do not look at the Sun directly for even a second — certified ISO 12312-2 glasses are required; ordinary sunglasses, smoked glass or unverified film do not protect the eyes. The Alpes-Maritimes Department advises checking the integrity of the glasses before use and not leaving children unsupervised.

Photography and telescopes

It’s better to set up equipment in advance, 30–40 minutes before the start, so you have time to focus and don’t rush at sunset. Photo and video equipment requires a dedicated solar filter on the lens — an ordinary neutral density filter does not dim the Sun sufficiently and can damage the camera sensor.

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Photo: Gaetan THURIN / Pexels