- Address: Avenue St-Martin, Monaco Ville, MC 98000, Monaco
- Phone: +377 93 15 36 00
- E-mail: musee@oceano.mc
- Website: www.oceano.mc
The Monaco Oceanographic Museum is one of the most famous natural science institutions in the world. His collection has been replenished for over a century and opens for the visitors the world of oceans and seas in all their wealth, beauty and diversity.
History of the Oceanographic Museum
The Museum of Oceanography in Monaco was created by Prince Albert I, who, in addition to ruling the country, was still an oceanographer and researcher. He spent a lot of time in the open ocean, studied the depths of the sea, collected samples of sea water and samples of marine fauna. Over time, the prince formed a huge collection of marine artifacts, and in 1899 he began to create his scientific offspring - the Oceanographic Museum and the Institute. A building was built near the sea, which in its architectural splendor and splendor is not inferior to the palace, and in 1910 the museum was open to visitors.
Since then, the institution's exposition has only been replenished. More than 30 years, the director of one of the best museums in Monaco was the captain Jacques Yves Cousteau, who made a huge contribution to its development and replenished its aquariums representatives of almost all the seas of the planet.
Structure of the Oceanographic Museum
The Maritime Museum in Monaco is huge, it is possible to walk around it and enjoy the recreated underwater world all day long.
On the two lower underground floors are aquariums and giant-sized lagoons. They live about 6000 species of fish, 100 species of coral and 200 species of invertebrates. You will forget about the time surrounded by colorful, different in size fish, funny sea horses and hedgehogs, mysterious octopuses, large lobsters, beautiful sharks and other no less exotic species of marine fauna. Near the aquariums there are tablets with a description of their inhabitants, as well as sensory devices, with which you will find detailed information about them: where they live, what they eat and what is special.
A special pride of the museum is the Shark Lagoon. It is a pool with a capacity of 400 thousand liters. This exposition is created in support of the movement against the destruction of sharks. She is trying to dispel the stereotype about how sharks are deadly (less than 10 people per year), in fact, even jellyfish (50 people a year) and mosquitoes (800 thousand people a year) are more dangerous to humans than sharks. In this campaign, you can even pat small representatives of sharks, from which you will receive incredible emotions and impressions.
On the next two floors there are halls in which there are scarecrows and skeletons of ancient fish and other marine animals, as well as species that have become extinct through human fault. Imagine your imagination in the Museum of Monaco exhibits whales, octopuses and even mermaids. Exposures have been developed that show what will happen if the natural balance on the planet is disturbed. They encourage people to think about it and take care of the environment more carefully.
Also in the museum you can watch educational films, oceanographic research instruments and instruments, submarines and the first diving suits.
And, finally, having risen to the last floor, you will see from the terrace a magnificent view of Monaco and the Cote d'Azur. There is also the Island of Turtles, a playground, a restaurant.
At the exit from the museum you can buy books, toys, magnets, dishes and other products devoted to the marine theme.
How to get to the Museum of Oceanography?
Since the old Monaco, where the Oceanographic Museum is located, occupies a small area, you can easily find it by the sea. It is located near the Princely Palace . You should go through the Palace Square , where the signs will help you choose the right direction.
The museum works every day, except for Christmas and the days of the Grand Prix of Formula I on the Monte Carlo track . You can visit it from 10.00 to 18.00 from October to March, from April to July and in September it runs an hour longer. And in July and August the museum accepts visitors from 9.30 to 20.00.
The cost of admission is € 14, for children under 12 years - twice cheaper. To adolescents aged 13-18 and students entering the museum will cost € 10.
The Museum of Oceanography is especially worth a visit if you travel with children. And for them, and for you, fabulous impressions and new knowledge about the underwater world of our planet are guaranteed.
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