Not every Russian tourist will get in his travels to the Principality of Monaco. Our compatriots who seek a calm and quite ordinary beach holiday rarely come here. 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. 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
The Oceanographic Museum of Monaco has been around for over a hundred years. It was founded by Prince Albert I, who conceived it as an elegant temple of science and art. The museum is one of the main attractions of Monaco, tourists are interested not only in its contents, but also in the appearance of the building. Its architecture resembles something elegant, conjuring up the image of a frigate flying through the waves. Moreover, the museum is located in the Old Town of Monaco on top of a steep cliff overhanging the sea.
The prince built the museum in the eighty-ninth year of the nineteenth century, and seven years later, an institute for the study of the oceans was opened within its walls. It exists in the Oceanographic Museum of Monaco until now, 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 life. All museum exhibits are so interestingly arranged that it is simply impossible to break away from the exhibition. Tourists are ready to spend all day here, immersed in 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. Huge aquariums, beautiful lagoons, expositions about the history of the world ocean, its development and forecasts for the near future are located on them. Also in the museum you will find the skeletons of the largest mammals that once inhabited 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 top floor there is an observation deck, which offers simply incredible sea views.
The underwater world of the museum
The 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 the tropical seas and the Mediterranean.
The exposition is built very competently - each inhabitant of the aquarium has a sign with a detailed description of his species and its features. Interactive screens are located under some aquariums, which tell you in a very colorful and interesting way about everything you need to know about a particular marine inhabitant. The only negative for Russians is the fact that the choice of foreign languages in the menu is quite limited:
In beautiful lagoons and aquariums, seahorses, vibrant tropical fish, jellyfish, octopuses and even bloodthirsty sharks frolic. In one of the lagoons, under the supervision of a museum employee, you can even stroke a shark and take a photo with it. All this diversity of marine life literally fascinates tourists who spend several hours on the basement without even noticing the flash of time.
"Adoption" of marine life
Interestingly, each aquarium pet can be "adopted" by a tourist from anywhere in the world. If you liked any marine life, then by e-mail or by going to the museum’s website you can go through the "adoption" procedure. It will cost from one hundred to five hundred euros, payment is made by regular credit card. After that, a certificate for your pet and museum tickets will be sent to your mail so that you can visit your new friend for free at any time.
Expositions of the first two floors
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 the ancient inhabitants of the deep sea, which became extinct even before the appearance of man on the planet. And some were destroyed precisely by people, and now only bones are left of them, carefully collected by the creators of the museum.
A great delight among all visitors is the skeleton of a whale twenty meters long. Tourists of all ages want to capture themselves near this giant.
Museum exhibits
On the third and fourth floors are collected exhibits telling about the development of the ocean depths. One of the rarest specimens is a submarine assembled in the distant eighteenth century. An ancient diving suit that looks a little ridiculous and absurd for our contemporaries is very interesting for children visiting the museum's exposition.
Here you can also get acquainted with the research of oceanologists. They talk about the place that each inhabitant of the deep sea occupies in the ecosystem. They also give predictions about the consequences that unreasonable nature management and the targeted destruction of various animal species will bring.
Observation deck and other entertaining corners of the museum
On the top floor of the museum there are also many interesting things. First of all, all tourists wish to climb to the observation deck, from where you can see the entire Cote d'Azur. A special playground is equipped for the children, where they can take a little distraction from studying the museum exposition.
It is on the top floor that there is a cozy restaurant where you can enjoy a delicious dessert or a full dinner with sea views. For kids, the menu contains many interesting and light dishes, which are also very useful.
Not a single child will pass by the turtle island, where you can feed these clumsy creatures and watch their measured life. Near the enclosure of turtles, there are always a lot of visitors who want to photograph these lovely inhabitants of our planet.
Library and gift shop
At the exit of the museum is a library that contains unique materials on the study of the oceans. Many of the recordings were made by Jacques Yves Cousteau, who served as director of the institution from the mid-twentieth century. He was in 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 items related to the marine theme, and even dishes. Nobody leaves empty-handed from here.
Monaco Oceanographic Museum: Address
The museum is very easy to reach from the famous Princely Palace. From it to the avenue Saint-Martin, where the museum is located, there are numerous signs. Tourists usually go around the Old Town for a very short period of time, so no one will be able to get lost in search of a museum. His exact address is Monaco, Monaco Ville, Avenue St-Martin.
Schedule
If you ever find yourself in a principality, be sure to visit the Oceanographic Museum of Monaco. 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 in the morning until six 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 ten in the morning and closes at eight in the evening.
The cost of an adult ticket ranges from fourteen euros. If you plan to visit the Princely Palace as well, then purchase a general ticket that allows you to explore both sights of Monaco at a price of nineteen euros.
Most travelers call the Oceanographic Museum in Monaco the most wonderful place on the entire coast. Reviews about him are filled with admiration and sincere delight caused by unique exhibits brought from around the world. Even if you are not too interested in the history of the study of the oceans, all the same, take the time to this museum, which will definitely give you a lot of positive emotions.