The **Odeillo solar furnace**, situated in the Pyrénées-Orientales region of France, has been in operation for more than 50 years. Built between 1962 and 1968 under the guidance of physicist Félix Trombe and officially opened in 1970, it features a massive parabolic mirror spanning 1,830 square meters—roughly the size of seven tennis courts—and 63 mobile heliostats covering 2,835 square meters. These heliostats follow the sun's path and direct its light onto the main mirror, which concentrates the energy at a focal point 18 meters away. At this point, temperatures can surpass 3,500 degrees Celsius, achieved purely by focusing sunlight, without the need for combustion, fuel, or chemical reactions. Currently managed by the PROMES laboratory of the French National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS), the **Odeillo solar furnace** is used for research on heat-resistant materials, solar power generation, thermal energy storage, hydrogen production, and waste treatment. It is regarded as one of the most powerful solar furnaces globally, alongside the **Parkent solar furnace** in Uzbekistan. The **Odeillo** facility has played a role in various scientific endeavors, including studies on solar energy conversion during the second oil crisis in the 1970s. These efforts contributed to the development of a solar thermal power plant by the French electricity company EDF in the early 1980s. Nearby, in Targassonne, is the **Thémis power plant**, which was once connected to the national electricity grid but is now a research site and an environmental education center linked to **Odeillo**. The PROMES laboratory, which operates the **Odeillo solar furnace**, also maintains research sites in Perpignan and Targassonne. Current projects at these locations include the production of solar hydrogen and the processing of waste, even radioactive waste, highlighting the ongoing significance of the technology developed over half a century ago. The **Odeillo solar furnace** continues to serve as a vital tool for advancing solar energy research and sustainable technologies. Its ability to generate extremely high temperatures using only sunlight underscores the potential of solar power for industrial and scientific applications. As the world seeks cleaner and more efficient energy solutions, the work at **Odeillo** remains a testament to the enduring value of early solar research.