Analemmatic dials

Meylan (near Grenoble, Isère, France)

This is not only the second largest analemmatic dial I know, it is also quite an open-air observatory. Very impressive!
What do we find here? The inscription at the bottom of the date line tells us.

• Firstly the sundial itself, of course. Major axis as long as 14 m (46 ft). Only the dial in Penticton (Canada) is larger: 20 m (65 ft)!
  Reading of local apparent time. Hour points from 4 to 20 in Roman numerals, also half-hour points. The inscribed and circumscribed circles of the ellipse are drawn, using bold dark lines. The local meridian (north-south line) is also accentuated.

  
  

  The date line has been engraved into a large slab of granite. Divisions per 1/3 zodiacal month. A large star caps the top of the date line, a sphere is at its bottom.

  

  The reading in local time can be converted into civil time by means of the graph, which combines the equation of time and the longitude difference with respect to the 15° meridian. This avoids the EoT-sign problem, as the sign of the combination is the same all year.

• Next, there is the meridian line. A pole at the northern side carries a star (more on that in a minute). It also carries a long, narrow mirror on its south face. When the sun's reflection hits the meridian line, it is exactly local noon. In addition, the distance of the reflection to the pole is indicative of the sun's altitude.

• The mirror can also be used to observe the culmination of other celestial bodies: moon, planets, bright stars. Stand on the meridian line at night. The star reaches its maximum altitude and is due south when you see it reflected in the mirror.

• The star on top of the pole allows one to make a check on Polaris. Find the place on the meridian line where you see Polaris right through the center of the star. When you return to the same spot anytime that or another night, Polaris, the immobile, should still be in the center of the star.

  
  

  

• At first, I did not realize what the wavy coloration along the rim of the dial was about. It turned out to be the panorama on the surrounding mountains. The Belledonne Range forms the southern skyline. Some of the peaks and cols are marked by a plaque, telling when and how late the sun rises there.

No telling I find the dial just a little bit largish... Aside from that, it is a beautiful object!

The motto reads: Passant entre ciel et terre ton ombre rythme le temps au soleil du Coeur Vert, which is not easily translated. My version: Your shadow moving between heaven and earth gives the time a rhythm by the sunshine of the Green Heart.

Location: 45.2° N, 5.8° E
Design: Atelier Tournesol, Saint-Martin-le-Vinoux (website in French)
Inauguration: ?

The sundial is set at the top of a sloping field in the Parc du Bruchet, which is called the 'Green Heart' of Meylan, you see. Meylan is a small town, 5 km (3 ml) east of Grenoble, in the Isère valley.

Below is a bird's eye view of Meylan. The Belledonne Range is in the background. The sundial is in the yellow circle.

Website: City of Meylan (in French)

The impressive reflecting dial in the Lycée Stendhal in Grenoble from 1673 is not often open to the public. Fortunately, the website on L'horloge solaire (in French) is well very informative!