In 1886 the largest refracting (i.e., with an objective lens rather than a mirror) telescope in the World made its debut at Nice Observatory, the Grand Lunette.

[1] The 77 cm (30 in) refractor telescope[2] made by Henry and Gautier became operational around 1886–1887,[2][3] was the largest in a privately funded observatory, and the first at such high altitude (325 m or 1,066 ft above sea level).

[4] Since 1988, the observatory site has been listed in the ZNIEFF (Natural Zone of Ecological, Faunistic, and Floristic Interest) inventory of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region.

The entire site is part of the ZNIEFF titled "Mont-Gros - Eze - Tête de Chien," which spans ten municipalities and covers an area of 2,907 hectares.

[11] In 2018, the exteriors in front of the Great Dome and the Grand Meridian served as the backdrop for Angèle's music video "La Thune".