Oceanographic Museum in Monaco. Oceanographic Museum of Monaco

Monaco - a beautiful life, in a word! However, among this wealth and luxury there was also a place for science. One of the centers of research thought on the French Riviera is Museum of Oceanography, which for a long time was headed by the great scientist, inventor, member of the French Academy, Captain Jacques-Yves Cousteau, by the way, an honorary citizen of Monaco.

Cote d'Azur, Monte Carlo... A bright, inaccessible world, filled with the roar of the engines of expensive sports cars, easy gliding over the waves of luxury yachts, and splashes of elite champagne. The golden strip of coastal beaches with the lucky ones relaxing on them smoothly flows into the stone piles of fashionable villas and hotels. Picturesque mountain landscapes here and there are cut through by twisting serpentines and highways along which Ferraris and Rolls-Royces dash dashingly. A beautiful life, in a word! However, among this wealth and luxury there was also a place for science.

One of the centers of research thought on the French Riviera is Museum of Oceanography, which for a long time was headed by the great scientist, inventor, member of the French Academy, Captain Jacques-Yves Cousteau, by the way, an honorary citizen of Monaco. The Oceanographic Museum is located in a building that can be considered a true masterpiece of architecture: it seems to grow out of a rock, from which there is a beautiful view of the sea, a small pebble beach, a park surrounded by greenery, an ancient castle, cozy streets and squares. Climbing to the top observation deck, you can admire not only the picturesque landscapes of the tiny principality, but also examine in detail the territory of France and Italy. And ahead is endless blue, with small light spots of leisurely yachts and motor ships scattered throughout.

The Oceanographic Museum was founded in the century before last, in 1899. The exhibition moved to the current building, designed by the architect Delefortrie, 11 years later. Most of the exhibits were donated to the museum by Prince Albert I, who more than once organized scientific research expeditions across the seas and oceans, which in many cases he himself led.

Albert Charles Opore Grimaldi earned fame not only as a talented leader, but also as a renowned scientific philanthropist and famous researcher. The Monte Carlo gambling business brought him considerable income, and he invested a significant part of it in sponsoring oceanological research. For a long time, the future prince served as a navigator in the Spanish Navy. During the years spent in the navy, he sincerely fell in love with the sea, and this love lived in his heart until the end of his days. On September 10, 1889, celebratory celebrations were held in Monaco on the occasion of the ascension to the throne of the new prince, Albert I. But the newly-minted monarch was eager to go to sea, and almost immediately after receiving the title, he ordered the construction of the Hirondelle yacht to begin. After launching it, oceanographers were included in the crew, with whom Albert went on the first expedition. He became a real fan of scientific research, and soon a whole flotilla was created to conquer the ocean depths. “Irondelle II”, “Princess Alice”, “Princess Alice II” are the largest steam yachts built by the prince, they can compete with the famous research vessels: the British “Challenger”, the Norwegian “Fram”, the Russian “Vityaz”. Soon the collections collected by Albert I grew so large that they required the construction of special premises. The prince himself chose a picturesque place on a high cliff, where a museum complex was to be erected, containing a scientific base: laboratories, specialized classrooms and a library. “Temple of the Sea” - this is the exact definition someone gave to the Oceanographic Museum of Monaco.

The museum is the main research unit of the Oceanographic Institute, another brainchild of Prince Albert. The luminaries of modern science regularly come from the Paris office to the branch in Monte Carlo to conduct various kinds of experiments. Of course, the exhibits presented here are not only unique, but also claim to be world scientific treasures.

Albert's contribution to the study of the world's oceans was truly enormous: more than three and a half thousand sea expeditions, studies of bottom ocean layers, and the study of marine flora and fauna. Thanks to his efforts, about two thousand buoys were installed in the Atlantic for detailed analysis of currents.

The museum's collections contain dozens of species of rare animals, many of which were caught by the monarch himself. The pearl of the exhibition was the famous giant octopus, which appeared in dozens of legends and myths. In addition, here you can get acquainted with unique collections of navigation instruments that were used on expeditions. The huge library, which is open to everyone, contains thousands of volumes of scientific reports and works on oceanography.

Along with the death of Prince Albert in 1922, the museum also fell into disrepair, since the new head of Monaco was not very interested in the sea. The funds that Albert allocated to finance the museum were “eaten up” by the inflation that broke out in Europe in the post-war years. There was no money to implement new research programs, and scientists loyal to the old prince no longer stood over laboratory microscopes. The scientific flotilla was also sold: for example, the yacht Hirondelle II was sold to some film studio and later blown up during the filming of the film. Subsequently, even more difficult times came for the museum: during the Second World War and during the period of post-war reconstruction, few people were interested in oceanography.
Gradually, the European economy began to recover from all the crises, the flow of tourists increased, and business began to improve. The sale of tickets to visitors allowed the Oceanographic Museum to reach full self-sufficiency.

Then the museum’s board of trustees decided to give the position of director to the outstanding oceanologist, talented inventor and researcher who created dozens of popular science films about the depths of the sea, former French Navy captain Jacques-Yves Cousteau. From this moment a new page in the history of the museum opens. Cousteau and his like-minded people sat down to develop a new scientific program. The first point in the new manager’s plans was to increase attendance, and for this it was necessary to carry out a number of preparatory work: purchase new equipment, begin rebuilding laboratories, expand the collection of the largest oceanographic library, and improve the qualifications of staff. The head of Monaco, Prince Rainier III, who was the grandson of Albert I, like his grandfather, was very fond of the sea, so he provided Cousteau with all possible support. The monarch, being the chairman of the Institute of Oceanography, even became the head of one of the laboratories, and later headed the International Center for Marine Radioactivity that opened here.

The museum recreated an imitation of the marine environment, as close as possible to real conditions. An open park-marinarium was erected at the foot of the complex, and an underwater fish farm was organized in the rock on which the building was located. Enormous work was carried out in the field of environmental protection, international seminars and symposiums were held at which sea pollution was criticized, measures to protect the seas were promoted, and the disposal of radioactive and chemical waste on the ocean floor was fought. The tough stance taken by the museum's management helped destroy the French government's plans to dump radioactive waste into the Mediterranean Sea. It was here that the famous Greenpeace organization took its first steps.

The museum building is filled with silence and coolness, which is especially pleasant after the noisy and hot streets of Monte Carlo. You get some strange pleasure from leisurely walking along its corridors, from looking at strange instruments and exotic representatives of marine flora and fauna. And here you can see an unsightly, barrel-shaped diving suit of domestic production, next to which are brand new Western models of underwater uniforms.
There are special showrooms here where they will show and comment on the life features of the smallest sea creatures - plankton, close-up. For these purposes, microscopes are installed here, the images from which are read and enlarged by special projectors. And nearby there is a hall where the skeletons of huge whales are exhibited; they can only be fully seen from a distance of several meters.

At the Oceanographic Museum you can study in detail all the seas of our planet. But tropical waters, replete with a huge variety of flora and fauna, deserve special attention. One of the most interesting exhibits is the coral reef, consisting of living corals brought here from the Red Sea. To ensure that coral growth does not stop during the day, the sun's rays always fall on the aquarium. In total, the museum’s aquariums display more than five hundred sea inhabitants, from the most harmless fish to dangerous predators such as sharks.

Stuffed animals and skeletons of various sea animals are exhibited in the Whale Hall. And the museum’s terrace is an excellent observation deck, which offers a wonderful view of the coast. Well, the pearl of the “temple of the sea”, of course, is the aquarium halls, where visitors will be introduced to the richest collection of marine organisms. Looking here, you will find yourself in a fairy-tale world full of bright colors and bizarre shapes. The most amazing and unusual fish from all over the world are collected here. Consider the sea bream, which is distinguished by the paradoxical nature of its development: for the first two years of its life it is a male, and then it transforms into a female. You will learn a lot about octopuses, which zealously protect the eggs with their powerful tentacles until the babies are born. The funniest local inhabitants - Preiophthalmes - live both in water and in the open air, these wonderful creatures hunt insects, while making hilarious grimaces. Some of the rarest species you will not see anywhere else in the world. The most valuable exhibits include, for example, Ceylon tetrodrones and Philippine demoiselles. Most fish thrive in captivity: some individuals have been living here for several decades.

Oceanographic Museum of Monaco (Monaco-Ville, Monaco) - exhibitions, opening hours, address, phone numbers, official website.

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The Oceanographic Museum of Monaco is the most famous museum in this small state. It was founded by Prince Albert I in 1889, and 7 years later an oceanographic institute was opened here, which also operates to this day. The museum and institute are located in an old beautiful building, which stands on the seashore almost on a steep cliff; almost the entire ground floor is occupied by an aquarium.

The exhibition is a collection of a variety of items related to the sea: ship models, naval tools and weapons, stuffed animals and skeletons of sea animals, etc. One of the most famous exhibits of the museum is a 20-meter whale skeleton, and the most popular among guests is These are huge aquariums, which display more than 4,000 species of fish and about 200 species of other marine life. In one of them, under the supervision of museum staff, you can touch a live shark.

Since 1957, the director of the museum was Jacques Cousteau, who, along with Prince Albert I, made a huge contribution to its life. The museum has a library where unique materials on oceanography and oceanology are stored, there is a souvenir shop, and on the top floor of the building there is a terrace with panoramic views of the Cote d'Azur.

Practical information

Address: Monaco, Monaco Ville, Avenue St-Martin.

Opening hours: daily, except Christmas Day and Formula 1 Grand Prix weekends; from January to March and from October to December - from 10:00 to 18:00; from April to June and September - from 10:00 to 19:00; in July and August - from 9:30 to 20:00.

Admission: adults - 14 EUR, children (4-12 years old) - 7 EUR, teenagers and students (13-18 years old) - 10 EUR.

Oceanographic Museum of Monaco November 23rd, 2015

-Maybe our life began in the ocean...
- Four thousand million years ago. In some deep, warm place, near an underwater volcano.
- And almost all this time all living creatures were aquatic, living in the sea. And then, several million years ago, or maybe a little earlier, living creatures got out onto land.
- But we can say that after we left the sea, having lived in it for many millions of years, we seemed to take the ocean with us. When a woman is about to give birth to a child, she has water inside her in which the child grows. This water is almost exactly the same as the water in the sea. And about the same salty. A woman creates a small ocean in her body. And that's not it. Our blood and our sweat are also salty, about as salty as sea water. We carry oceans within us, in our blood and sweat. And when we cry, our tears are also an ocean.
Gregory David Roberts "Shantaram"

In this post I would like to talk about our visit to the Oceanographic Museum in Monaco.
The Oceanographic Museum of Monaco has a large collection of various species of marine fauna in the form of stuffed animals and skeletons. Museum collections also include a large number of various objects related to the sea and maritime affairs, such as ship models, naval instruments, weapons, and so on.

The museum was founded in 1889 by Prince Albert I of Monaco.

"The Oceanographic Museum of Monaco looks like a majestic frigate at eternal rest - a frigate storing in its holds all the treasures of all the depths. And I built it as a guarantee of the union and cooperation of all scientists from all countries of the world"- this is how the museum was described by its creator, Prince Albert I.

The Oceanographic Institute opened in 1906. The museum is the main scientific base of the international Institute of Oceanography, whose headquarters are located in Paris.
The museum is located in a monumental building built in 1910 by the architect Delefortry on an almost vertical cliff at an altitude of more than 80 meters.

Building layout

The museum has a huge library, which stores, among other things, reports on oceanographic expeditions.
Since 1957, the director of the museum was the outstanding oceanographer Jacques Cousteau.
In 2010, the museum celebrated the centenary of the scientist’s birth.
I think that this is one of the most interesting museums in Monaco, and it will be interesting not only for children, but also for adults.

The museum is called the "temple of the sea." Everything about the sea-ocean is told here.

On the top two floors there is a museum with stuffed animals and skeletons of huge ancient fish and sea animals, rare species or species already extinct due to the fault of man, as well as interesting exhibitions about the protection of the world's oceans.

On the top floor there is a panoramic terrace with a magnificent view of Monaco and the Cote d'Azur (there is an elevator!).

The aquarium is located in the basement of the building, and here you can see live specimens of about 4,000 species of fish and about 200 species of invertebrates.

At the exit from the Oceanographic Museum there is a gift shop with fun toys, magnets, accessories and other marine-themed goods. Teach your children to control themselves!))) Our child refused to leave the room without a shark, it’s good that he didn’t beg for the real one... the one he stroked here.)))

This summer, the museum has dedicated a special focus to introducing sharks.
In our minds, a shark is often nothing more than a series of frightening images inherited from Hollywood horror films. An exhibition on the topic, proposed by the Oceanographic Museum, aims to rid sharks of this bad reputation. These animals are far less deadly (fewer than 10 people a year) than jellyfish (50), mosquitoes (800,000) and, of course, car accidents, which kill 1.2 million people a year.

Firstly, here they gave you the opportunity to feel like you were in the mouth of a shark... in a simple photo shoot like “Jaws”.)))

Secondly, we were allowed to pet a shark... a small one, but still a shark. And don’t check it, this attraction was very entertaining.)))

Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene also took an active part in supporting this event...

Not every Russian tourist will get to the Principality of Monaco on their travels. Our compatriots rarely come here looking for a calm and quite ordinary beach holiday. But those who have the opportunity to travel all over Europe in search of adventure will definitely look into this miniature state. Despite the fact that the principality, by Russian standards, has a rather small territory, there is something to see here. First of all, every tourist considers it his duty to visit the Oceanographic Museum of Monaco - a place where you can learn almost everything about the oceans of our planet. Within its walls it will be equally interesting for both children and adults.

History of the museum's creation

The Oceanographic Museum of Monaco has existed for over a hundred years. It was founded by Prince Albert I, who envisioned it as an elegant temple of science and art. The museum is one of the most important attractions of Monaco; tourists are interested not only in its contents, but also in the appearance of the building itself. Its architecture resembles something graceful, conjuring up the image of a frigate flying through the waves. Moreover, the museum is located in the Old Town of Monaco on the top of a steep cliff overlooking the sea.

The prince built the museum building in the eighty-ninth year of the nineteenth century, and seven years later an institute for the study of the World Ocean was opened within its walls. It still exists in the Oceanographic Museum of Monaco; tourists have the opportunity to get acquainted with some of its scientific projects designed to draw public attention to the pollution of the Earth's hydrosphere and the disappearance of many marine inhabitants. All the museum exhibits are so interestingly arranged that it is simply impossible to tear yourself away from the exhibition. Tourists are ready to spend the whole day here, plunging into the incredible world of the ocean depths.

Oceanographic Museum of Monaco: description

The museum consists of five floors with a total area of ​​six thousand square meters. They house huge aquariums, beautiful lagoons, exhibitions about the history of the world's oceans, its development and forecasts for the near future. Also in the museum you will find skeletons of the largest mammals that once lived and still live in the depths of the sea. On the territory of the Oceanographic Museum of Monaco there are several restaurants and souvenir shops, and on the roof of the last floor there is an observation deck, which offers an incredible view of the sea.

Underwater world of the museum

A giant underwater gallery occupies two basement floors of the Oceanographic Museum of Monaco. Photos taken in this part of the museum are simply incredibly beautiful, because tourists have the opportunity to admire more than six thousand species of marine life. Most of them come from tropical seas and the Mediterranean.

The exhibition is built very competently - each inhabitant of the aquarium has a sign with a detailed description of its species and its characteristics. Under some aquariums there are interactive screens that very colorfully and interestingly tell you everything you need to know about this or that marine life. The only drawback for Russians is the fact that the choice of foreign languages ​​on the menu is quite limited:

• English;
• Italian;
• French.

Seahorses, bright tropical fish, jellyfish, octopuses and even bloodthirsty sharks frolic in beautiful lagoons and aquariums. In one of the lagoons, under the supervision of a museum employee, you can even pet a shark and take a photo with it. All this diversity of marine life literally fascinates tourists who spend several hours on the ground floors without even noticing the passing of time.

"Adoption" of sea creatures

Interestingly, every pet of the aquarium can be “adopted” by a tourist from any corner of the planet. If you like any sea creature, you can go through the “adoption” procedure by email or by going to the museum’s website. It will cost from one hundred to five hundred euros, payment is made by a regular bank card. After this, a certificate for your pet and tickets to the museum will be sent to your email so that you can visit your new friend for free at any time.

Exhibitions on the first two floors

The two floors of the Oceanographic Museum are filled with a huge number of exhibits related to the sea. Here tourists will find the skeletons of ancient inhabitants of the deep sea, which became extinct even before humans appeared on the planet. And some were exterminated by people, and now only bones remain from them, carefully collected by the creators of the museum.

The skeleton of a twenty-meter long whale causes great delight among all visitors. Tourists of all ages want to take pictures of themselves near this giant.

Museum exhibits

The third and fourth floors contain exhibits telling about the exploration of the ocean depths. One of the rarest specimens is a submarine assembled back in the eighteenth century. Very interesting for children visiting the museum’s exhibition is an ancient diving suit, which looks a little ridiculous and awkward for our contemporaries.

Here you can also get acquainted with the research of oceanologists. They talk about what place each inhabitant of the deep sea occupies in the ecosystem. They also make predictions about the consequences that will come from unreasonable environmental management and the targeted destruction of certain animal species.

Observation deck and other interesting corners of the museum

There are also many interesting things on the top floor of the museum. First of all, all tourists want to go up to the observation deck, from where they can see everything. For children, there is a special area where they can take a little break from studying the museum exhibition.

It is on the top floor that there is a cozy restaurant where, overlooking the sea, you can taste a delicious dessert or a full lunch. For children, the menu includes many interesting and light dishes, which are also very healthy.

Not a single child will pass by turtle island, where you can feed these clumsy creatures and watch their measured life. There are always a lot of visitors near the turtle enclosure who want to photograph these lovely inhabitants of our planet.

Library and gift shop

At the exit of the museum there is a library containing unique materials on the study of the oceans. Many of the notes were made by the hand of Jacques Cousteau, who served as the director of this institution since the mid-twentieth century. He had a close friendship with the founder of the museum and made a huge contribution to its development.

A small souvenir shop sells cute toys, books, various marine-themed items, and even dishes. No one leaves here empty-handed.

Oceanographic Museum of Monaco: address

The museum is very easily accessible from the famous Prince's Palace. There are numerous signs leading from here to Avenue Saint-Martin, where the museum is located. Tourists usually walk around the Old Town in a very short period of time, so no one will get lost while looking for the museum. His exact address is Ville, Avenue St-Martin.

Schedule

If you ever find yourself in the Principality, be sure to visit the Oceanographic Museum of Monaco. Its opening hours depend on the time of year. For example, from October until the very first month of spring, you can view the exhibition from ten o'clock in the morning to six o'clock in the evening. In spring and September, the working day is extended by one hour, and in the summer season the museum opens at half past nine in the morning and closes at eight in the evening.

The cost of an adult ticket ranges from fourteen euros. If you are planning to also visit the Prince's Palace, then purchase a general ticket that allows you to see both attractions of Monaco for a price of nineteen euros.

Most travelers call the Oceanographic Museum in Monaco the most wonderful place on the entire coast. Reviews about it are filled with admiration and sincere delight caused by unique exhibits brought from different parts of the world. Even if you are not too interested in the history of ocean exploration, you will still take time to visit this museum, which is sure to give you a lot of positive emotions.

The museum was founded in Monaco at the end of the 19th century by Prince Albert I, who was a great lover of sea travel. He began collecting a collection of fish, sea animals and plants. From 1957 to 1989, the museum was headed by the famous explorer Jacques Cousteau, thanks to whom the collections of the oceanographic museum were replenished many times over.

It was at the Oceanographic Museum of Monaco that many environmental protection works were carried out. International seminars and symposiums were held here to criticize sea pollution, promote measures to protect the seas, and fight against the dumping of radioactive and chemical waste on the ocean floor. The tough stance taken by the museum's management helped destroy the French government's plans to dump radioactive waste into the Mediterranean Sea. It was here that the famous Greenpeace organization took its first steps.

Museum exposition

Today, the museum has recreated an imitation of the marine environment, as close as possible to real conditions. A marinarium park was erected at the foot of the complex, and an underwater fish farm was organized in the rock on which the building was located.

The aquariums of the Oceanographic Museum represent the inhabitants of all the oceans of the Earth, many exotic species of fish and mammals. In addition, there is an exhibition about underwater research, where underwater vehicles, diving suits, various instruments and devices for diving are presented.

Of particular interest to visitors is the aquarium located in the basement of the building. 90 swimming pools and about 6,000 representatives of the seas and oceans will not leave either adults or children indifferent. The Shark Lagoon will be of interest to thrill-seekers, and children will be delighted by the clown fish, just like in the Disney cartoon “Nemo”.

The museum has special showrooms where they will show and comment on the life features of the smallest sea creatures - plankton. For these purposes, microscopes are installed here, the images from which are read and enlarged by special projectors. And nearby there is a hall where the skeletons of huge whales are exhibited; they can only be fully seen from a distance of several meters.

Here you can study in detail all the seas of our planet. But tropical waters, replete with a huge variety of flora and fauna, deserve special attention. One of the most interesting exhibits is the coral reef, consisting of living corals brought here from the Red Sea. To ensure that coral growth does not stop during the day, the sun's rays always fall on the aquarium. In total, the museum’s aquariums display more than five hundred sea inhabitants, from the most harmless fish to dangerous predators such as sharks.

The Whale Hall displays skeletons of various marine inhabitants, including very large ones - whales, sharks, octopuses. The funniest inhabitants of the Oceanographic Museum are the flying fish Periophthalmus, which live both in water and in the open air. These wonderful creatures hunt insects, while making hilarious grimaces. Some of the rarest species you will not see anywhere else in the world. The most valuable exhibits include, for example, Ceylon tetrodrones and Philippine demoiselles. Most fish thrive in captivity: some individuals have been living here for several decades.

There is a cozy cafe on the roof of the building, and a souvenir shop at the entrance. It is worth paying attention to the fact that there is no passage from the store back to the museum.

Museum opening hours

• January, February, March – 10:00-18:00
• April, May, June – 10:00-19:00
• July, August – 10:00-20:30
• September – 10:00-19:00
• October, November, December – 10:00-18:00

Price

Adults - 14 €, children 4-12 years old - 7 €, teenagers 13-18 years old - 10 €, disabled people - 7 €, children under 4 years old - free.

How to get to the museum

Address: Avenue Saint-Martin, Monaco Ville 98000, Monaco

The Oceanographic Museum of Monaco is located on Avenue Saint-Martin, a stone's throw from the Prince's Palace. You can get there on foot or by bus number 1 or 2 in the direction of Monaco Ville (stop Place de la Visitation).