The Oceanographic Museum

The Oceanographic Museum, palace of the sea

The Monaco audio-guided tour takes you to the Oceanographic Museum, standing against the cliff facing the Mediterranean like a majestic palace of the sea. It is one of the most impressive buildings of the Principality and a high place of marine science.

The work of Prince Albert I

After twenty-eight expeditions on the Mediterranean and the Atlantic Ocean, Prince Albert I returned to Monaco more passionate than ever about the marine world. His fervour was such that he imagined creating in the Principality an institute devoted to marine biology and to his personal scientific collections. This dream became reality with the inauguration of the museum in 1910, built against the cliff over some eighty-five metres in height.

What there is to see

The museum houses about a hundred tanks populated by several hundred marine species, from the shark to multicoloured corals, as well as rich scientific collections and exhibitions devoted to the protection of the oceans. From its panoramic terrace, the view of the Mediterranean and the Rock is spectacular. It is a fascinating visit for young and old, between wonder and awareness.

Practical information

The Oceanographic Museum is against the cliff, on the Rock, in Monaco. The visit follows its own schedule, with a charge, whose opening times may vary with the season. The panoramic terrace offers one of the finest views of the Principality.

Who created the Oceanographic Museum?

Prince Albert I, a lover of marine science, who had it inaugurated in 1910 against the cliff.

What can you see at the Oceanographic Museum?

About a hundred tanks housing hundreds of marine species, scientific collections and a panoramic terrace over the sea.