LA BOULE

Between History and Science, this place opens up exclusively: how did the electron beam make it possible to observe the infinitely small? Why is this architecture worthy of the best science fiction novels?

At Rangueil, the visit is led by two voices: a lecturer and a researcher from the CEMES laboratory (Centre d'Élaboration de Matériaux et d'Etudes Structurales). Their talks provide an insight into the impressive scientific heritage of the 1950s...

Toulouse was at the crossroads of its destiny: it was a country town AND a hotbed of researchers in the post-war race for science! A land of aeronautics and physicists, it was attracting more and more students, who would soon see campuses built along the fields and meadows. It was Charles de Gaulle who inaugurated the Laboratoire d'Optique Electronique, now CEMES, here in 1959.

Gaston Dupouy designed the most efficient microscope in the world. He created an electron gun that could reach 95% of the speed of light. Its radius enabled it to magnify by a factor of 1 million to observe bacteria - a remarkable feat!

To achieve such power (1.5 million volts), the microscope's column (which has since disappeared) was powered by a Cockcroft-Walton accelerator. At the time, the instruments were of monumental size: this was 'Big Science'! It's here that your eyes will widen: architect Camille Montagné's 26-metre diameter 'Ball' still houses this accelerator. It consists of tubes topped by 9-metre-high polished steel mushrooms, but shhh... you have to see it to believe it...

In the event of force majeure or constraints imposed by the activities of CEMES, the visit may be cancelled or rescheduled.