What France will see
The total phase does not cross mainland France, but the partial phase is visible across the country. The Moon covers roughly 90% of the Sun in the northeast and more than 97% in parts of the southwest. That is a major partial eclipse, not a minor event.
The critical challenge is altitude. Maximum eclipse occurs in the evening, with the Sun only a few degrees above the horizon in many eastern and southern cities. A sea view, ridge or open west-northwest horizon can matter more than travelling a few kilometres for a marginally higher obscuration.
Times and obscuration by city
Times below are local summer time (CEST). They are model calculations for city-centre coordinates and should be rechecked for the exact observing point.
| City | Obscuration | Begins | Maximum | Sun altitude |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paris | 92.0% | 19:22 | 20:17 | 7.7° |
| Lyon | 93.8% | 19:27 | 20:21 | 4.6° |
| Marseille | 96.3% | 19:31 | 20:25 | 3.0° |
| Bordeaux | 97.5% | 19:29 | 20:24 | 7.5° |
| Lille | 90.2% | 19:19 | 20:14 | 8.2° |
| Nantes | 95.7% | 19:24 | 20:20 | 9.3° |
| Toulouse | 97.8% | 19:31 | 20:25 | 5.6° |
| Nice | 95.0% | 19:30 | 20:23 | 2.1° |
| Strasbourg | 89.8% | 19:22 | 20:16 | 4.4° |
| Brest | 96.4% | 19:22 | 20:19 | 11.7° |
Where to observe
- Prioritise an unobstructed western horizon; check the exact azimuth from your chosen city in the search tool.
- Atlantic-facing locations generally keep the Sun higher than eastern France at maximum.
- Visit the site at the same time of day several weeks beforehand to identify buildings, trees and terrain.
- Avoid stopping on roads or private land. Expect popular coastal viewpoints to fill early.
Eye safety in France
Because the eclipse is partial everywhere in mainland France, certified solar viewers must remain on for the entire event. There is no safe naked-eye phase in France.
Use ISO 12312-2 compliant viewers from a traceable supplier. Cameras, binoculars and telescopes require a front-mounted solar filter designed for the instrument.
Scientific references
References used for eclipse dates, safety guidance and local calculations.